The oldest of four sons born to Jimmy and JoAnn Cates in Cookeville, TN, James W. Cates, M.D., graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, TN. Excelling both academics and sports, Dr. Cates was chosen his senior year by the faculty as Battalion Commander for the entire corp, graduated with honors, and was a varsity letterman in both football and track.

After high school, Dr. Cates attended undergraduate programs at UTK, UCLA, and TSU, where he earned his Bachelor of Science. In 1985, Dr. Cates graduated from medical school at Meharry College of Medicine in Nashville and subsequently completed his three-year residency at the UT Medical Center in the Family Physician Program. Dr. Cates has experience in cancer research at the UT Medical Center, microbiology work at UCLA, and in the Department of Endocrinology at Vanderbilt.

In 1987 he began practicing emergency medicine at Cookeville Regional Medical Center and also gained experience while working at Livingston Regional Hospital from 1988-1998, and at Mid State Sports Medicine with Orthopedist Dr. Richard Williams.

He studied “ImPACT” at the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 and implemented the testing and training to help patients recover more quickly from concussions. As a Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC), Satellite Med is established as a referral center for the entire Upper Cumberland area.

In 2016 Dr. Cates joined 49 other physicians at Harvard Medical School for leadership training and in 2017 he attended the Tennessee Medical Association’s (TMA) Leadership Training. In 2018, Dr. Cates became President of the Upper Cumberland TMA Chapter. He was elected to the Board of Trustees for the TMA in 2018 for a 2-year term. He served an additional year as Vice Chair, and in 2021 Dr Cates was elected as Chairman of the Board. During his time being involved at the state level, he spent many hours discussing and problem-solving the challenging obstacles of practicing medicine in Tennessee. The TMA works closely with Tennessee legislators passing or blocking bills, making laws, and overturning policies that handcuff physicians to practice independently of big pharma and corporate medicine. He was personally involved in writing the bill to require telemedicine reimbursement to pay as equally as a face-to-face visit. He also helped to initiate legislation to push back on burdensome prior authorizations required by third-party payors from physicians on behalf of their patients.

Dr. Cates achieved medical board re-certification in 2022, pushing his certification into 2030.

Dr. Cates is board-certified in Family Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice (FAAFP).

Dr. Cates is the head Medical Doctor and full-time Chief Manager of Satellite Med.

Dr. Alexander was born in Knoxville TN, and according to his parents, genealogy enthusiasts, he is a member of a family that has roots in TN before TN became a state.

In his youth, he was very active in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout.

He attended UT Medical School and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee - Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Alexander began his career in a hospital based in Cleveland, Tennessee, before accepting an opportunity to build and open 2 hospitals in California.

Following that, Dr. Alexander completed additional training at PRR/UCSD with his eyes on becoming a missionary doctor in service to the Lord.

It wasn't just a job opportunity that brought him to Satellite Med but a calling and an answer to prayer.

He is excited to see how the Lord can use him to serve the patients of the Upper Cumberland at Satellite Med. As patients hopefully discover when seeing Dr. Alexander, he simply is:

a physician, in service to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. (Luke 5:17).

Dr. Alexander is happily married and has 4 grown children. In his time off he enjoys studying the bible, playing guitar, hiking in the beautiful Upper Cumberlands and rooting for the Vols.

Dr. Kenna Williams earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee, completing her residency training in general surgery there as well. She has been in private practice since 1991, joining Highlands Surgical Associates in 2013. Previously she was affiliated with Hillside Hospital in Pulaski, TN; Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, TN; and Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, TN.

Dr. Williams is past president of the Putnam County Rural Health Clinics (PCRHC). In 2003, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the Tennessee Medical Association's Board of Trustees for her volunteer service to the PCRHC as the Organizer, Past President and Chief Operating Officer for appropriately five years.

She is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.