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, and Restor Metabolix, a company providing infusion services to diabetics.
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.
Stephen Proctor
Stephen M. Proctor is an accomplished healthcare executive with an impressive 25-year track record in the healthcare industry. He currently holds dual roles as the Chief Benefits Officer at Java Medical Group and the Chief Executive Officer of Russellville Hospital, situated in Russellville, Alabama.
Stephen earned his bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Lacrosse University. He further honed his expertise by graduating from Wallace State as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. This combination of administrative knowledge and hands-on experience uniquely positions him in the healthcare field.
Stephen's journey in healthcare leadership began in 2008 when he assumed the role of Human Resource Director. Over the years, he assumed various pivotal roles including Respiratory Director, Risk Director, and Compliance Officer, ultimately culminating in his appointment as Chief Operational Officer. In 2020, he ascended to the position of Chief Executive Officer at Russellville Hospital, a testament to his dedication and exceptional leadership skills. Stephen Proctor is an active and engaged member of the Health Care Compliance Association, underlining his commitment to upholding the highest standards of healthcare compliance and ethics.
Under Stephen's dynamic leadership as CEO, Russellville Hospital has achieved several groundbreaking milestones. Notably, it became the first facility in the United States to introduce the revolutionary 4 cm uCT ATLAS 164 slice CT, featuring an impressive 82 cm bore and an astonishing 700 lbs table weight capacity, all powered by cutting-edge AI-driven workflow. Additionally, Russellville Hospital proudly holds accreditation from The Joint Commission as the state's first physiologic insulin resensitization infusion clinic, exemplifying Stephen's commitment to advancing healthcare services and patient care.
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.