LETTER FROM THE PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMICS

From exemplary teaching in our classrooms and cutting-edge research in our laboratories to patient-centered care in our clinics, ETSU Health has made a positive difference in the health and well-being of countless individuals and communities over the past year.

The stories contained in the pages of this annual report are reminders of the many ways that our five health sciences colleges are committed to East Tennessee State University’s mission to improve the quality of life in the region and beyond.

Nowhere is that impact felt more noticeably than in rural communities.

ETSU’s footprint as a leader in rural and Appalachian health continues to expand with new programs, grant funding, and a strong and consistent focus on health issues affecting these areas.

Housed in the College of Public Health, the ETSU Center for Rural Health Research and the ETSU/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center have earned several competitive grants over the past year, allowing them to work on national policy briefs, new assessment tools, and research spanning from substance misuse to mental health stigma in rural areas.

In addition to research, our ETSU Health colleges are committed to the education and training necessary to prepare health care professionals.

Last year, we welcomed the inaugural class of Doctor of Occupational Therapy students in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. We also launched the Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy, and Outreach, created at Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy thanks to a generous gift from Ballad Health.

In August 2022, we announced EQUIP, a new pathway program at Quillen College of Medicine, aimed at creating more opportunities for high school and college students who are interested in a medical career in rural or underserved communities.

Of course, our work also extends beyond the classroom and into our clinics where ETSU Health providers, students, and faculty are working on the front lines of health care. Last year, we received multiple grant awards that will allow us to enhance our clinics, including funding that is being used to expand services in two ETSU Health College of Nursing primary care clinics in rural Hancock County and a grant that will allow us to develop a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

These are just a few snapshots of the vibrant research, teaching, and service taking place at ETSU. I hope you enjoy the stories of how ETSU Health is going beyond the status quo and innovating to create healthier communities and greater opportunities for students who are interested in health care professions.

Sincerely,

Kimberly D. McCorkle Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics