Leadership and Committees

Medical Staff Executive Leadership

Benjamin Dart, MD
Chief of Staff, Officer's Council

Dr. Benjamin Dart is board-certified through the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He specializes in general surgery and surgical critical care. Dr. Dart joined University Surgical Associates in 2005.

Dr. Dart is a professor of surgery and Chair of the Department of Surgery for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga. 

Leslie Griffin, MD
Vice Chief of Staff, Officer's Council

Dr. Leslie Griffin is originally from Cookeville, Tennessee. She attended Tennessee Tech University, where she studied political science in addition to her pre-medical studies. She earned a dual medical and Master of Public Health degrees from St. George’s University. She completed her residency training at University of Tennessee Family Medicine at Chattanooga. Dr. Griffin has a particular interest in infant and maternal health care and global health. She enjoys spending her time with her husband and their 3 young boys.

As the Clerkship Director of Family Medicine, Dr. Griffin is active in medical education. She is also actively involved in the Tennessee Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine.

Prior to entering the medical field, Dr. Griffin was in the Peace Corps; and she continues to participate in international medical mission work.

Steven DePasquale, MD
Secretary to the Medical Staff

Dr. Stephen DePasquale is a board-certified, fellowship-trained gynecologic oncologist and founder of the largest women’s oncology practice in this region. His passion for women’s health and determination to bring the latest and greatest cancer treatment options to Chattanooga and the surrounding area, has fueled more than twenty years of tireless service.

A champion of healthcare education, Dr. DePasquale is invested in health literacy from raising public awareness for cancer prevention and early diagnosis, in developing care pathways within the healthcare system that promote treatment compliance, to sharing his vision for physician education and training as Professor and Chair of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

He initiated and operates three local, non-profit foundations to support the needs of women undergoing cancer treatment, provide access to life saving intervention in local schools and public access areas, and to enhance educational endeavors in research and process improvement. town.

Christopher Poole, MD
Immediate Past Chief of Staff

Dr. Christopher Poole is a nephrologist based in Chattanooga, TN. After graduating from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he earned his medical degree at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Poole did his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also attained a Fellowship in Nephrology.

Dr. Pool has board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology.