Meet the Java Medical Group Team
Bappa Mukherji
Ashoke “Bappa” Mukherji began his career practicing corporate and transactional law at Neal & Harwell in Nashville, Tennessee. He left the practice of law to establish Guy Brown Products in 1999, where he served as CEO until 2010. Under Bappa’s leadership, Guy Brown grew to become the nation’s fifth largest office supply dealer with over $200 million in annual sales.
Beginning in 2002, he syndicated physician groups to acquire struggling rural hospitals in the Southeast. He served on the board of each of these hospitals and has extensive experience in acquiring, selling, and managing rural hospitals and physician practices. He is currently the Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Unity Medical Center in Manchester, Tennessee, a 49-bed hospital that also operates two rural health clinics.
Bappa founded Java Medical Group, LLC in 2017 for the express purpose of helping distressed rural hospitals. Growing up in small town Tennessee, with his father being the only general surgeon at the local hospital, Bappa has an innate understanding of the need for quality rural healthcare. Java acquired Russellville Hospital (Alabama) out of bankruptcy in early 2019 and quickly restored the hospital to profitability. Java also was involved in acquiring a Mississippi hospital out of bankruptcy and reopening a critical access hospital that had been closed for five years. Java recently sold the Mississippi facilities to focus on other hospitals needing financial and operating assistance. Java also manages Blue Ridge Medical Center (formerly Fannin Regional Hospital) in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Bappa has been involved with several start-up medical technology companies. He served on the Board of Directors of CredenceHealth which was eventually sold to Xerox. He acquired Specialty Medical in 2008, an online DME company, which was later sold to Health Warehouse (Ticker symbol: HEWA). Bappa is an advisor to CaringWays, a crowdsourcing platform for medical expenses.
Bappa earned a B.S. in Economics from the California Institute of Technology before graduating from law school and business school at Vanderbilt University. He has served on the board of numerous charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Dava Health, Coffee Cares, Children First and the Nashville Children’s Theatre. He lives in Nashville with his wife and four children.
Martha Henley
Martha E. Henley is a healthcare executive with 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Java Medical Group, and the Chief Executive Officer of Unity Medical Center in Manchester, Tennessee.
Martha received her undergraduate degree in business from the University of Phoenix and later her master’s in healthcare administration at Vanderbilt from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. She also holds a CHC certification from the Health Care Compliance Association and is part of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Martha is married to Brett Henley. They have four adult children and enjoy traveling and spending time together outdoors in God’s beautiful scenery.
Under Martha’s leadership, Unity Medical Center has received multiple recognitions and awards. Unity Medical Center received the honor of being named Top 100 Rural and community hospital by Chartis Center for Rural Health in February of 2023. This recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX. Early 2022, Unity was named in Becker’s Healthcare as one of only two Tennessee hospitals to be named best hospitals for patient experience in the South. This status was determined by using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores from CMS (Medicare). Currently, Unity holds a 5-star rating based on these ratings. This status is held by only five healthcare facilities in Tennessee. UMC was also accredited by DNV in 2022.
As a lifelong resident of Coffee County, Tennessee, Martha has developed a strong passion for delivering quality medical care in rural communities. As Chief Executive Officer of United Regional Medical Center, she helped spearhead the effort to merge two rural hospitals (United Regional and Medical Center of Manchester) to form Unity Medical Center. As COO of Java Medical Group, her passion for improving rural based healthcare continues to be evident, as Java owns and operates hospitals in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Martha currently serves on the Manchester Economic Development Board in Manchester and the Coffee Cares Board (non-profit charity organization). Martha is also a member of the National Rural Health Association, Tennessee Hospital Association, Alabama Hospital Association, Georgia Hospital Association, and American College of Healthcare Executives. She is past Chair of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Education Committee in Manchester and has served on boards at Manchester Rotary and Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, Martha has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Top 177 women hospital presidents and CEOs to know.
Alison Morris
An executive with a passion for efficiency, technology, and rural healthcare, Alison Morris is the Chief Administrative Officer of Java Medical Group, where she brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic skill set to her role.
With a solid marketing background and a knack for digital marketing and graphic design, Alison is not only operationally driven but also creatively inclined. Her ability to blend marketing expertise with operational acumen allows her to strategize process improvements that ensure every team member completes their tasks on schedule.
Alison is known for her enthusiasm for technology and its potential to boost productivity. She leverages innovative tools and solutions to streamline operations, making sure that Java Medical Group operates at peak efficiency.
Having been born and raised in a farming community in Iowa, Alison understands the critical role of rural healthcare in supporting and nurturing communities. She is deeply committed to enhancing healthcare quality and access in rural areas across America.
While initially drawn to Nashville in 2001 to pursue a music career, Alison quickly transitioned into the business world. She found herself thriving in the challenging environment of small businesses, where her skills and adaptability shone brightly. She is an energized leader who combines her diverse experiences and passions to drive positive change in the healthcare landscape. Her journey from rural roots to the heart of healthcare administration showcases her commitment to making a difference.
Alison currently resides in Arrington, TN, with her husband Criss, their two daughters, and their furry companion, Ace.
Shannon Hughes
In 2003, Shannon graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in accounting, and began her healthcare career at North Mississippi Medical Center -- the largest rural health system in the country. Following that role, Shannon spent the next eight years as the Director of Fiscal Services at Decatur Morgan Hospital, an affiliate of the Huntsville Hospital System. During her time at Decatur Morgan, she assisted with the consolidation of two hospitals located in Decatur, AL. She was also active in helping upgrade the EMR system that rebuilt the billing office function of the system. Shannon has eighteen years of healthcare experience that includes financial reporting, budgeting, cost report, audits, collaboration with central billing offices for hospital and clinic accounts (including rural health clinics).
Shannon joined Java Medical Group in 2020 as CFO of Russellville Hospital. In addition to her financial role, she oversees several departments including HIM, IT, materials management, plant operations, and dietary. In 2022, she took on the additional position of Corporate CFO at Java Medical Group.
Shannon currently lives in North Alabama with her husband Michael and their three children. They enjoy traveling and spending time at the lake.
Ray Burns
Ray is a healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience, currently making significant contributions to Java since joining in 2023. Prior to his role at Java, Ray served as the Director of Compliance for Emergency Care Partners, LLC in Pensacola, Florida.
His journey in the healthcare sector commenced three decades ago, starting as a hospital registration clerk and swiftly advancing to a registered nurse within just three years. Ray's dedication to professional development led him to attain a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. His clinical expertise primarily resides in interventional cardiology and emergency medicine, where he held various clinical leadership roles before transitioning to risk management and compliance in 2010.
Ray's remarkable career includes a pivotal role as the Chief Compliance Officer for Coffee Medical Group, LLC, where he spearheaded the implementation and oversight of an effective compliance program over a decade. Eager to contribute further to the industry, Ray pursued and completed his master's in healthcare administration from St. Joseph’s University in 2015.
Driven by a commitment to excellence, Ray founded Progressive Healthcare Solutions, LLC in 2018. Through this venture, he shares his extensive knowledge and expertise to assist healthcare facilities in meeting their compliance needs. Ray's innovative methods and determination have proven instrumental, particularly in guiding facilities with limited resources.
In addition to his healthcare and compliance prowess, Ray boasts a wealth of experience in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and holds a black belt in Israeli Krav Maga. Leveraging his martial arts expertise, he has successfully trained healthcare staff on maintaining physical safety in the unique healthcare environment.
Ray is a certified healthcare compliance professional (CHC) and an active member of the Health Care Compliance Association. Beyond his professional achievements, Ray is a devoted father to two children. Currently residing in Winchester, Tennessee, with his wife and son, the family enjoys outdoor activities on the lake and traveling to support their son's track and cross-country events. Ray's multifaceted expertise, commitment to compliance, and passion for healthcare make him a valuable asset to any organization fortunate enough to benefit from his leadership.
Matthew Burks
Matthew Burks is a versed healthcare IT professional with over two decades of service in the industry. Currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer at Java Medical Group and Unity Medical Center, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless functioning of IT infrastructure and communications within these organizations.
For 22 years, Matthew has served as the IT Director for Unity Medical Center, where he demonstrated unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare through technology. His areas of expertise encompass information security and user education, with a strong emphasis on prevention methods.
Matthew's extensive list of certifications reflects his commitment to staying at the forefront of technology. He holds certifications such as A+, Net+, Server+, Linux+, and LPI Linux Essentials, showcasing his proficiency in various IT domains. Additionally, he is a Microsoft MCP and holds the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification, underlining his versatility in both traditional and cloud-based IT environments.
Being a dedicated family man and community leader, he currently serves as the treasurer, leader, and board member of his son's Trail Life scouting troop, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the next generation. In the past, he successfully ran a natural vegetable farm, showcasing his love for sustainable living. An avid lover of the outdoors, Matthew enjoys camping and exploring nature. He resides in McMinnville, TN, alongside his wife and two children.