Dr Parham is a native of Sumter, South Carolina. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after serving three years as a combat medic. He later graduated from Alabama A&M University with a bachelors in zoology. He earned his MD degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham. His three year residency in internal medicine was completed at Emory University Atlanta, Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Since 1991 he has practiced internal medicine in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has one year experience as  medical director for the Bridge, an inpatient addiction program. He has been certified by the DEA to prescribe opioid addiction medicines since 2017.

Dr Parham is married to the former Gwendolyn Clift of Huntsville, Alabama
since 1980 and together they have four adult children.

Dr Parham is an ordained Seventh Day Adventist Elder and oversees the technology for Orchard Park SDA Church.