Dr. Jara Best-Jones

Position: Director – West Tennessee

Dr. Jara Best Jones joined the Cumberland Pediatric Foundation in March 2025 as the West Tennessee Regional Director.  Her primary role includes expanding CPF’s presence and membership in the West Tennessee region. She is responsible for planning networking and education opportunities, as well as assisting clinics who are participating in grant projects through the foundation. Dr. Jara Best Jones graduated from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee and obtained her medical degree from The University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, Tennessee. She completed her Pediatric residency at Lebonheur Children’s Hospital. After completing residency, she joined Pediatric Consultants/Lebonheur Pediatrics and practiced as a general pediatrician for 20 years, retiring from clinical medicine in May 2024. Dr. Best Jones also served as the Tennessee Market Medical Director at Equality Health until October 2024.

Dr. Best Jones has a passion for service, volunteering, and non-profit organizations. She has served on several boards throughout Memphis and Shelby County. She was a member of the board of directors for The Children’s Museum of Memphis and The Exchange Club Family Center (now The Kindred Place). Dr. Best Jones currently serves on the board of directors of The Woman’s Advocacy Center which provides services and support for women and children in Shelby County, Tennessee who have been victims of domestic abuse. In 2013, she won the Volunteer Mid-South Adult Volunteer of the Year award for her work with the parenting program for teen mothers and the domestic violence programs for women and children at The Exchange Club Family Center.  Dr. Best Jones is the chair of the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable, and serves on the St. Jude Spirit of the Dream Committee.

Dr. Best Jones and her husband Kent love all things Memphis Grizzlies and have been season ticket holders since 2001. She enjoys traveling, baking, reading and serving those in need. Of all the leadership positions she has held throughout her career, her most important and gratifying job has been raising her three amazing sons, Aaron, Cameron, and Logan.