They’re former colleagues who became competitors. Now they’re a husband-and-wife team that operates one of the area’s best known dermatology practices. Drs. Megan Morrison and Pezhman Shoureshi opened Harpeth Valley Dermatology in March
2020. But their journey to Middle Tennessee entailed many hours and miles driving about the country.
After graduating from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the doctors landed internships at the same hospital in Blacksburg, Virginia. That’s where their bourgeoning relationship took hold. But they found themselves driving together to distant locales where they’d interview for highly sought-after medical residencies. It was not without its awkward moments.
“It’s a stressful time as you're competing against a lot of applicants just for the opportunity to interview for a few residencies,” says Dr. Shoureshi. Dr. Morrison concurs. “It was an interesting beginning to a relationship. It’s kind of like, ‘I want you to get this residency, but I don’t want you taking my spot!’ But the hours in the car and our common experiences and career paths helped us get to know and understand each other.”
Perhaps it was fate but they both landed residencies at their first choice: Dr. Morrison at Michigan State and Dr. Shoureshi at Case Medical Center in Cleveland. They were apart, but still close enough to maintain their relationship which led to marriage on November 2, 2013.
“We didn’t see each other that much at the beginning,” says Dr. Morrison. On one of the rare occasions that they were together, Dr. Shoureshi remembers, “going to a piano bar and falling asleep, not from the late night, but the long hours!” Holidays meant more long car rides for the newlyweds. “We would drive to my parents’ home in Florida, and Nashville was halfway,” says Dr. Morrison. “We really liked it and that’s what led us to move here in 2015.”
It doesn’t hurt that both docs possess musical streaks as well. She taught piano prior to med school; he plays guitar, including lap and pedal steel. They’re also frequent patrons of live music events, whether they’re in small neighborhood venues or in Nashville’s large theaters and arenas. Today they reside in downtown Franklin with their 2 1/2-year-old daughter and soon-to-be 1-year-old son. Rural hikes and downtown strolls are favorite family activities.
In addition to Thompson’s Station, there’s a Harpeth Valley Dermatology location in Smyrna. Dr. Morrison is Fellowship-trained in Mohs Micrographic (cancer) Surgery while Dr. Shoureshi practices general dermatology. Rounding out their staff is Dr. Benjamin Bashline. All three doctors are Board Certified Dermatologists. HarpethValleyDermatology.com
