After 31 years of serving as Executive Vice President of The Memphis Medical Society, Mike Cates announced his retirement late in 2016.
When the announcement was made, those who know Cates suspected “retirement” was probably a poor word choice. They were right. Cates, who has long been known for his dedication to the Medical Society and his desire to help and encourage others, quickly agreed to requests of assistance. No surprise. That’s what he has always done.
During his three-decades-plus service with the Medical Society he often spent extra hours helping newly arriving doctors to Memphis feel comfortable in their new hometown. He was just as generous with his time when it came to projects or events.
At a large event commemorating his retirement shortly after the announcement, a number people stepped to the podium to tell of times that Cates had done something special on their behalf. One speaker was Scott Morris, CEO and founder of Church Health.
Morris reminisced about how he arrived in Memphis with an idea of a way to help people who couldn’t help themselves. However, soon after his arrival, Morris discovered that he himself needed help in his new town if his plan was to reach fruition. He described the way that Mike Cates gave valuable time, suggestions and knowledge that helped the Church Health Center become such a valuable part of the community.
To no one’s surprise, Morris later revealed that he has successfully recruited Mike to help Church Health as it starts a new chapter and moves into the Crosstown Concourse.
Prior to coming to the Bluff City, Cates spent 10 years with the North Carolina Medical Society and Mecklenburg County Medical Society in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Since coming to Memphis, his leadership and community service distinctions include helping establish the Mid-South Chapter of the Medical Group Management Association, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the University of Memphis School of Public Health, serving on the board of the Mid-South eHealth Alliance, the first regional health information exchange throughout Memphis hospitals, and serving on the Advisory Committee of the Common Table Health Alliance (formerly Healthy Memphis Common Table).
Cates is a Certified Association Executive by the American Society of Association Executives (AAMSE). He is also a former AAMSE board member and active committee participant, and former president of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives. He has been honored with the 2015 AMA Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2013 Outstanding Alumnus Award by his alma mater, Campbell University in North Carolina.
In 2015, the American Medical Association presented its Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award to Cates. He received the award in Atlanta during an AMA Interim Meeting in recognition of his 40 years of service to physicians and patients in Tennessee and North Carolina.
The award, presented to a medical executive of a county medical society, state medical association or national medical specialty society who has contributed substantially to the goals and ideals of the medical profession, and whose contributions are sustained over a significant term of service, is a perfect reflection of what Mike Cates meant to the healthcare community as well as the City of Memphis.
“Mike embodies the true spirit of a medical society executive,” said Russ Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Medical Association at the time. “During his illustrious career he has played a pivotal role not only in the careers of hundreds of physician leaders but also in the advancement of organized medicine at the county, state and national levels. Mike has been a reliable counselor, colleague; mentor a valued friend to me and so many other leaders in the field.”
Memphis Medical News joins with so many others in paying tribute to Mike Cates for his contributions to healthcare as well as our entire community. Thanks, Mike.
