UT Health Science Center College of Medicine Magazine - Winter-2024

MEDICINE

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

Be a Legacy Society Member

The Legacy Society recognizes those who have remembered the UT Health Science Center in their estate plans and notified us of their intentions. This special group of individuals is passionate about this institution and our mission of education, health care, research, and public service — and our vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.

Charitable support strengthens our efforts.

As the state’s largest educator of physicians, we are honored to partner with our dedicated members of our community who support the College of Medicine by funding scholarships for the physicians and leaders of tomorrow, programs that enhance their education, and vital research improving health.

Soon, a new display in the historic Mooney Building will honor our Legacy Society members for their commitments and enduring impact on our mission. Every student, faculty and staff member, and visitor will have the opportunity to celebrate those who have chosen to partner with us in their estate planning.

Planned gifts provide flexibility for your needs. Planning now for the distribution of your assets relieves your family and friends from the burden of these tough decisions and ensures your wishes are fulfilled.

To explore options for planned gifts and ensure you are included in this special tribute, contact Bethany Goolsby in the Office of Advancement at 901.448.8212 or bgoolsby@uthsc.edu.

LEADERSHIP

UT Health Science Center Chancellor

Peter Buckley, MD

Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships

Paul Wesolowski, MBA

Interim Executive Dean

G. Nicholas Verne, MD

Dean, College of Medicine – Chattanooga

James Haynes, MD, MBA, FAAFP

Dean, College of Medicine – Knoxville

Robert Craft, MD

Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education – Nashville

A. Brian Wilcox, Jr., MD

Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Brigitte Grant, MBA

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Chandra Tuggle

Executive Director of Development College of Medicine

Kelly Davis

Designers

Adam Gaines

David Meyer

Writers

Chris Green

Janay Jeans

Peggy Reisser

Erika Wynn

Photographer

Caleb Jia

< Advocating for Children Physician lobbies to speed up diagnoses for critically ill kids

From Surgeon to C-Suite

Eubanks helms Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital > A Helping Hand Physician Assistant students providing care in the community

< Transforming Mental Health Chief wellness officer creating culture of well-being

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Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national

or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Access and Compliance

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Access and Compliance. E073201(008-250689)

From the Interim Executive Dean

Over the past year, I have been proud and honored to witness the College of Medicine’s inward and outward progress.

We have worked tirelessly to secure LCME accreditation through 2029. We have grown our research funding to $61.2 million and increased the support of our researchers. Additionally, 93% of our 2024 graduating class reported on the Graduate Questionnaire they were satisfied with their medical education.

Simultaneously, our clinical faculty, residents, and students have reached out across the state to provide care in hospitals and clinics from one end of Tennessee to the other. Our researchers secured 229 grants and contracts, published 713 peer-reviewed articles, and submitted 19 intellectual property filings. We are also expanding opportunities for medical student research.

Once again, we had a very successful Match Day in March, with 173 students matching, and 31% of those matching to a UT Residency in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Nashville.

Looking ahead, we continue our commitment to create a top-tier educational environment for our students as we work to increase scholarships and reduce student debt. We remain dedicated to providing excellent care through our hospital and clinical partnerships across the state.

As the Interim Executive Dean for the College of Medicine, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the entire College of Medicine family for all you have done and all you will do in the future. Our outstanding alumni are the backbone of our college, with your dedication to advancing medicine, mentoring our future physicians, and contributing your time, talent, and finances for our success. Our faculty members are shapers of the future of medicine. Our students are that future.

I urge you to share the excitement and commitment as we advance our College of Medicine together.

Warmest regards,

G. Nicholas Verne, MD Interim Executive Dean of the College of Medicine

From the Chancellor

When we adopted our Strategic Plan in 2023, we set an ambitious vision for the next five years: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.

The words are simple, the goal is not. Tennessee ranks among the least-healthy states in America in lifestyle habits, overall health outlook, and substance abuse, according to a 2024 Forbes report.

Clearly, it will take all of us at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center— students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends—working together to achieve our goal.

Already, we have made great strides.

Our College of Medicine is a leader in this effort.

Our strong and valued partnerships with major hospitals and clinical practices across the state allow the College of Medicine and our faculty, residents, fellows, students, and alumni to make a real difference in the lives and the health of the people of Tennessee.

Our medical education programs across the state are accredited, the college’s research portfolio is growing, and philanthropic support is increasing. Additionally, we are grateful to have received $29.6 million for upgrades to the Gross Anatomy Lab on the Memphis campus, thanks to the leadership and stellar advocacy of UT President Randy Boyd along with the UT System and UT Health Science Center government affairs team.

Our College of Medicine alumni are amazingly generous in supporting the college’s academic, clinical, research, and outreach efforts. We are excited for you to read about some of these efforts and learn of areas available for your support.

As the chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I want to extend my sincere thanks for all you do to support the College of Medicine as we pursue our vision to make Tennessee healthier and help its people thrive.

Sincerely,

Peter Buckley, MD Chancellor of the

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

From the Alumni Council President

Dear Friends and Fellow Alumni,

I am honored to begin my term as your UT Health Science Center College of Medicine Alumni Council President. Having served on the council since 2010 and as a faculty member in the College of Medicine –Chattanooga Department of Surgery for nearly 40 years, I have constantly been amazed by the incredible work our alumni, students, trainees, and faculty are doing throughout their communities and all around the globe. This is a testament to the education, and especially the clinical training, we all received while attending UT Health Science Center.

I can assure that tradition remains at our medical campuses across the state. In my faculty roles, I have interacted significantly with former, current, and future students and residents. They are incredible, and I am just as confident our future alumni will leave an indelible mark in our health care communities.

I invite you to engage with the College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center, and your fellow alumni. There are numerous ways you can become involved. You can nominate any former classmate or College of Medicine graduate for an outstanding alumni award. You can encourage students to apply to the College of Medicine or serve as a mentor to our current students.

Attending any of the alumni events that we host annually is another great way to get involved. I invite you to join our annual Alumni Weekend in September 2025, when we will honor our outstanding alumni Natascha Stone Thompson, MD, ’98, Lynn Massingale, MD, ’77, and John Howington, MD, ’89. We will also be installing beloved professor Jack Wilson, PhD, as an honorary council member. Additionally, we will host our graduates from the Class of 1975 next October during the annual Golden Graduate Homecoming. Please make sure to update your contact information at https://alumni.uthsc.edu/update/.

I would also like to encourage your philanthropic support of UT Health Science Center, the College of Medicine at any of our four campuses, as well as our next generation of physicians. Some of my most rewarding experiences have been teaching and interacting with medical students and residents and giving to support medical student scholarships and enhanced training opportunities for our surgical residents. The recipients of our generosity are truly grateful, and it has been inspiring to learn their stories, see their excitement and potential, and play a part in their successes. Knowing you had an impact on their education is very fulfilling and creates a chain of goodwill.

On behalf of the Alumni Council, we hope you enjoy this issue of the Medicine magazine and are inspired by our collective impact – and we wish you all the best.

Michael Greer, MD, ‘75, ‘78 College of Medicine Alumni Council President

#39

Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas*

Matriculants in 2024 (159 in state, 16 out of state)

Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas* Physician Assistant Program in Tennessee, #46 Nationally*

98.2% 229 713 173

First-Time Pass Rate Step 1 Exam

$61.2 MILLION 31% 175 250 85 #48 #1

Grants and Contracts

*Rankings by U.S. News & World Report

Peer-Reviewed Publications Medical Students Matched

Matched for Residency in Tennessee

Total Research Funding

Medical Students Participating in Summer Research

College of Medicine Continues to Strengthen Statewide Hospital Partnerships

• The College of Medicine in Chattanooga celebrated its 50-year partnership with Erlanger Health in 2024, where 172 paid faculty, 95 volunteer faculty, 204 residents and fellows provide state-of-the-art care to regional citizens, teach over 225 medical and physician assistant students annually, conduct research, and engage in significant community service. The college has a new residency in neurology, a primary care sports medicine fellowship, a new health career development program in partnership with UT Chattanooga and is raising funds for an Endowed Chair in Surgery honoring R. Phillip Burns, MD, who served the institution as surgical chair for 46 years.

• During the chancellor’s State of the University presentation in March, Robert Craft, MD, dean of the College of Medicine in Knoxville, said one word, “growth,” sums up the message from the College of Medicine in Knoxville. “I’m very happy to say that our strategy here at the College of Medicine is to ensure high-quality physician-led care for our region,” he said. This is being accomplished by growing education and research programs through partnerships across the university’s statewide network. Additionally, the College of Medicine in Knoxville marked its 25-year partnership with the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The medical education arm in Knoxville was founded in 1956 with the opening of the campus as the University of Tennessee Memorial Research Center and Hospital. In 1999, the hospital was spun out into a not-for-profit 501c3 now often referred to as University Health System (UHS), with the education and research missions incorporated into the UT Graduate School of Medicine, now often called the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine-Knoxville. The college has 558 faculty members and 262 residents and fellows providing care at the hospital to the people of Knoxville.

• During the State of the University event, Brian Wilcox, MD, associate dean of Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education for the College of Medicine in Nashville, said the 10-year partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas continues to grow, producing about 35 physicians for the Tennessee workforce every year and training about 100 medical students annually. “We’re ready to explore the potential of really growing and expanding what we are in Middle Tennessee, because we strongly believe that with the Ascension partnership, there’s remarkable opportunity with our 16 hospitals, plus specialty and subspecialties, and literally the millions of patient encounters that we’re able to offer the community we serve.”

• Of the 429 Memphis-area physicians on the 2024 Top Doctors list, 265 or 62% are affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. These outstanding physicians are UT Health Science Center faculty, who help train the future physician workforce for Tennessee. They are also practicing physicians caring for patients in partner hospitals and clinics across the city of Memphis.

Rheumatologist Advocates for ‘Life-Changing’ Law to Help Critically Ill Infants and Children

By Peggy Reisser

When Fitz Kettler was born in 2019, he seemed the picture of health. He was four days old when the results of the standard newborn screenings showed he had a genetic condition, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).

Subsequent rapid whole genome sequencing done at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego further refined the diagnosis. He had Artemis SCID, an even rarer form of the condition that could be treated with a new type of gene therapy.

Today, Fitz is a healthy 5-year-old living with his family in Canada, thanks to the early and fast genomic sequencing.

Earlier this year, Terri Finkel, MD, PhD, the interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UT Health Science Center and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, advocated before the state House and Senate for legislation to require TennCare coverage for rapid whole genome sequencing of Tennessee newborns exhibiting signs of rare genetic diseases when certain criteria are met.

This, she explained to the lawmakers, would give physicians the power to diagnose babies, like Fitz, with rare childhood illnesses sooner and eliminate the pain, suffering, and expense resulting from months and possibly years of testing to get a diagnosis.

The legislation passed unanimously and was signed into law May 28, making Tennessee one of 14 states to have laws for Medicaid coverage for rapid whole genome sequencing. In most of those states, rapid whole genome sequencing is an approved benefit only for infants. Tennessee is one of five states that have the benefit from birth to age 21.

“This is a life-changing event in Tennessee,” Dr. Finkel said. “This is a benefit that the citizens of Tennessee now have that will save the lives of many children over the years. It also affirms the importance of access to rapid whole genome sequencing, which delivers quick results for our sickest children allowing physicians to begin treatments earlier.”

As a pediatric rheumatologist, she is passionate about diagnosing, treating, and easing the suffering of infants and children with rheumatological diseases.

Dr. Finkel’s clinical experiences positioned her as the ideal advocate for the legislation to help the smallest and

most vulnerable citizens of Tennessee with one of the newer technological tools of medicine. Whole genome sequencing organizes the entire DNA sample that makes up an individual human genetic dictionary into a file of letters that then can be examined for mutations that characterize certain diseases. Rapid testing generates results within 14 days from the date of receipt of the sample, with preliminary results as early as seven days.

“The rapid whole genome sequence allows us to know when there are variants in known genes, whether there are specific proteins that aren’t working in a child who has a critical illness,” she explains. Early and rapid testing can translate to earlier and faster diagnosis and treatment.

Most often, this testing would apply to critically ill children in the neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care units.

There are criteria that would make a child eligible for the testing, such as presenting with an acute or complex illness of unknown cause, abnormal laboratory tests or chemistry profiles suggesting a genetic disease, or birth defects involving at least two organ systems. However, there is room for physicians to apply their medical judgment. “The law also applies if the child is not responding to treatment as we anticipate, which makes it ‘user friendly’ in the sense that we can use our judgment as physicians as to which children are most likely to benefit from this test,” Dr. Finkel says.

Ongoing collaboration with Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM) at Rady Children’s HospitalSan Diego informed and supported Dr. Finkel’s advocacy for the cause. RCIGM, a nonprofit research organization, is a pioneer in rapid whole genome sequencing and has championed expanding its use in pediatric health care.

Armed with statistics from Rady and after becoming aware of the effort in Michigan to pass similar legislation, “I began researching how I could make that happen in Tennessee,” she says. Similar efforts by others in Tennessee had stalled, primarily because of the estimated cost associated with rapid whole genomic sequencing.

State Rep. Brock Martin and state Sen. Richard Briggs were the sponsors of the legislation, House Bill 1826 and Senate Bill 1762.

“They asked me to write a justification based on what we knew from three other big studies, one in California, the one in Michigan, and one in Florida, which had all passed this bill,” she says.

“Based on those studies, it showed that not only was this test cost effective, but it saved and generated money.”

“In other words, the cost of the test, and it’s not a cheap test, is offset by the fact that you have children in the hospital fewer days, and they need fewer expensive painful prolonged testing,” she explains.

“Aside from the actual cost saving, there’s the saving of worry and lost work time and suffering of both families and the children.”

Dr. Finkel wrote letters summarizing the cost data, underscoring the message that the legislation would save lives without excessive costs to the state.

She was invited to address the House and the Senate in her capacity as a physician who cares for infants and children who could benefit from the testing.

Invaluable support came from the university, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and the UT System. The Children’s Hospital Association of Tennessee, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Vanderbilt got behind the legislation, she said. Though the law went into effect July 1, it will take time to get adopted, Dr. Finkel said.

“TennCare has to make policy and we’re going to work with them on that. And it’s going to take a while for the hospitals to implement. My physician colleagues and I will be working together with our hospitals to bring this life-saving test to our children and families.”

Dr. Trey Eubanks Leads with a People-Centered Vision for Excellence

By Chris Green

Raised by a mother and father who were both pharmacists in Tunica, Mississippi, Trey Eubanks, MD, has always seen the importance of taking care of people.

“In that type of small community, when people get sick, they often go to the pharmacy first,” he says. “Some of them never went to the doctor and just went to Dr. Eubanks, who was my dad, and asked him for help.”

For more than two decades, Dr. Eubanks has dedicated his career to training future doctors as a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, treating patients as a pediatric surgeon at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and fostering the growth of his colleagues as a leader at both institutions. Now, as president of Le Bonheur, Dr. Eubanks’ goals are centered around building up the hospital’s people – the faculty, staff, and trainees – to provide patients and families with the best care possible.

While his experience around pharmacy sparked his interest in medicine, an incident on the high school football field cemented his ambition to become a doctor. “It was a tight game, and we had to block an extra point to keep us in it. We were able to block the point, but in the meantime, the left tackle, who weighed about 280 pounds, fell on my arm and dislocated my elbow,” he

“This hospital is only as good as its people. The buildings are great, the floors are fantastic, and the art is very beautiful, but that doesn’t help anybody get well, per se. What does is the attitude, the capabilities, and the commitment of the people we hire.”

— Dr. Trey Eubanks

says. A doctor on the sidelines took young Dr. Eubanks to the hospital to pop his elbow back into place. “I was in a lot of pain, and all of a sudden, boom, it was gone. And I thought, man, if I can do that for somebody – relieve their pain and restore their health – that’s what I want to do.”

After high school, Dr. Eubanks attended the University of Mississippi and began pharmacy school before revitalizing his goal to be a medical doctor. He attended medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where his interest in surgery grew. On the first day of his first clinical rotation in pediatric surgery, a specific case confirmed pediatric surgery was his calling. “We took care of a little kid who had Hirschsprung’s disease, which meant he couldn’t go to the bathroom. We made it where he could normally go to the bathroom and eat and thrive. I was just kind of amazed with all of peds surgery at that time,” he says.

When the time came to match into residency, Dr. Eubanks interviewed at UT Health Science Center as a favor to someone, and it ended up being his favorite residency interview. He was drawn to the people he encountered through the process – including the other residents, the doctors who interviewed him, and the college’s staff –and he was inspired by their sense of pride and their attitude of service and teamwork.

After his residency in Memphis, Dr. Eubanks completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He then felt compelled to return to Memphis, not only because of his appreciation for Le Bonheur and for UT Health Science Center, but also to be closer to his roots.

“I wanted to come back and take care of my people,” he says. “Tunica is only 35 miles south of here, and we kind of collectively call ourselves ‘Memphissippians.’ I grew up in this area, and North Mississippi and the Delta are just a part of me, so to be able to come back here and serve this area is a real privilege.”

Dr. Eubanks has now dedicated more than 20 years of his career to Le Bonheur and UT Health Science Center. In addition to serving as a professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery in the College of Medicine, he has held many leadership roles at Le Bonheur, including surgeon-inchief and medical director of trauma. Among his proudest accomplishments is developing Le Bonheur into a Level 1 trauma center.

“I can think of half a dozen kids off the top of my head who never would have even had a chance of surviving but did survive because we have a Level 1 trauma center, some of whom I took care of,” he says.

As faculty, Dr. Eubanks takes pride in sharing his surgical expertise with UT Health Science Center trainees, and he enjoys watching them grow as they work through their program. Since he once stood in their shoes, he relates to many hardships trainees face, and he strives to assure them their sacrifice is worth it.

“I like to catch them when they’re a little bit down and say, ‘Hardships make heroes – here’s your chance to be one,’” he says. “What you need to do is focus on the patient and the family, take great care of them, and then take pride in that.”

As he navigates the highest leadership position of his career so far, Dr. Eubanks is continuing to focus on people. His top priority is to retain and recruit employees who put patients and families first, who strive to discover cures and prevention methods for disease and injury in children, and who are great educators. With a dedicated faculty, Dr. Eubanks says Le Bonheur can continue to grow its national reputation as a top children’s hospital and training location for the future health care workforce while holding onto its culture of friendliness and charm.

“This hospital is only as good as its people. The buildings are great, the floors are fantastic, and the art is very beautiful, but that doesn’t help anybody get well, per se. What does is the attitude, the capabilities, and the commitment of the people we hire,” he says. “We’ve got to continue to bring in great people who have a great work ethic, who love to educate, and who can do great research. That’s really what we need – a great team of people that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center will be proud of.”

As president of Le Bonheur, Dr. Trey Eubanks seeks to see Le Bonheur continue to grow its national reputation, while keeping its patient- and family-focused culture.

Le Bonheur Recognized Among Best Children’s Hospitals in U.S.

Under the leadership of Dr. Trey Eubanks, U.S. News & World Report has named Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital as a “Best Children’s Hospital” for 2024-2025. This is the 14th consecutive year Le Bonheur has received this recognition.

“We are honored to be one of the best children’s hospitals in the country,” Dr. Eubanks said. “We know that this comprehensive distinction reminds parents that their children are in the best hands when they visit Le Bonheur, and we take their trust very seriously.”

Le Bonheur has been included in the prestigious list with recognition in eight specialties: cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology.

Le Bonheur is the primary pediatric hospital affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Together, UT Health Science Center and Le Bonheur train more than 350 new pediatricians and pediatric specialists each year and faculty physicians provide expert care to children from the region.

Photos courtesy of Le Bonheur

Dr. Harish Manyam Leads a New Era in Medical Education and Cardiac Care in Chattanooga

By Chris Green

A pioneer in cardiac care, Harish Manyam, MD, is beginning the next phase of his career with a commitment to advancing medical education, research, and the treatment of heart issues of Tennessee.

The newly appointed chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga, Dr. Manyam aims to grow the department’s influence in the community while shaping the next generation of physicians. His leadership marks a new direction for the department, focused on innovation and excellence in patient care.

“Our College of Medicine in Chattanooga is extremely honored to promote a clinician, educator, and researcher of Dr. Manyam’s stature,” said James Haynes, MD, dean of the College of Medicine – Chattanooga. “His innovative

approach to the practice of cardiology, education, and clinical operations will be of significant benefit to the families, learners, and institutions of our region.”

Dr. Manyam also serves as chief of the Division of Cardiology at Erlanger. However, he didn’t always know he would end up in cardiology. His journey into the medical field began with a personal story that shaped his ambitions. “I originally got into medicine because I really wanted to help people,” he says. “My uncle getting sick changed my career path from biomedical engineering to medicine.”

Initially, Dr. Manyam was on track to become a surgeon, even going through the match process for surgical programs. However, when he was a medical student at American University of the Caribbean in St. Martin, a chance encounter with the interventional cardiology team in the catheterization lab changed everything.

Photos courtesy of Erlanger

“I saw them opening up arteries with stents, and I thought, ‘that’s definitely what I am going to do,’” he says.

To pursue his newfound passion, Dr. Manyam pivoted to internal medicine, spending three years in residency and a year as chief resident at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then completed three years in a cardiology fellowship and two additional years specializing in electrophysiology.

His career path eventually brought him to Tennessee, a move sparked by an unexpected meeting. During a fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Manyam met a colleague who spoke highly of Chattanooga.

“I didn’t really know anything about the program or the city, but then I visited and I saw the opportunities for residency and education. I also realized that bringing really advanced cardiovascular care to the community here would be important,” he says. His wife’s love for the city sealed the decision to relocate to Chattanooga.

Throughout his time at the College of Medicine and Erlanger, Dr. Manyam has served in several roles that have provided him unique opportunities to blend clinical work, research, and education.

“I have the support of the hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to progress with research and also progress with teaching our residents, medical students, and fellows, and really forming and creating a path the Department of Medicine,” he says.

In his research endeavors, Dr. Manyam has recently made headlines for his involvement in a multinational project to create a leadless atrial pacemaker. As the first surgeon in Tennessee to implant this new device, Dr. Manyam and his team have revolutionized cardiac care by tackling potentially dangerous problems associated with traditional pacemakers and defibrillators.

“This is a great leap forward for the field,” Dr. Manyam says. “We’ve always tried to do things in a way that can save patients’ lives, but now we’re thinking about ways to prevent complications for patients so they can live longer, healthier lives, which is really our mission at UT Health Science Center.”

When asked about what he enjoys most, Dr. Manyam is clear: teaching is his true passion. “If I could teach all the time, I would. I enjoy teaching people and helping them understand difficult concepts, breaking them down to make them easier, so they can feel intrigued and excited about medicine,” he says. “We need good caregivers for the future, and I hope to inspire that in the next generation.”

“ We need good caregivers for the future, and I hope to inspire that in the next generation.”

— Dr. Harish Manyam

For Dr. Manyam, working with students and residents is one of the most rewarding parts of his job. “They’re the variable that makes every day exciting. I get to train them and, hopefully, instill a good work ethic and core belief that they care for a bunch of other people,” he says.

As for his future goals, Dr. Manyam remains focused on the present. “Sometimes, I’m just thinking about the wall that is in front of me, not the three other walls I’m going to go through down the road,” he says. For now, his priority is to continue building a strong department that can grow and thrive.

I MATCHED! Match Day 2024 a Triumph for Tennessee’s Medical Future

By Erika Wynn

Amid the blooming views of the Memphis Botanic Garden and in celebrations echoing statewide, 173 medical students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine gathered Friday, March 15, for Match Day 2024.

Match Day is an annual rite of passage for medical students nationwide who discover where they will spend the next phase of their medical training as residents. It’s a day filled with nervous excitement, when years of hard work and dedication converge into a single envelope containing the key to their future.

Students eagerly tore open their envelopes, and joy and relief erupted across the room as they celebrated their matches. All College of Medicine students would be moving forward in their medical careers, whether through residencies or research opportunities.

It was revealed that 39% of these students would remain in Tennessee for their residency programs. This decision not only underscores the institutional vision of cultivating physicians dedicated to serving their local communities, but also highlights the state’s growing capacity to produce and retain medical professionals poised to address the health care needs of its citizens.

G. Nicholas Verne, MD, interim executive dean of the College of Medicine, expressed profound pride in the Class of 2024’s achievements, saying, “Today, we witness the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. These

Of the 173 total students who matched:

67 students (39%) matched to residencies in Tennessee.

54 students (31%) are staying at UT Health Science Center for residency.

77 students (45%) matched to primary care specialties.

59 students (34%) matched to non-primary care specialties.

students represent the future of medicine in Tennessee, and their commitment to serving our communities is truly commendable.”

Similar celebrations unfolded at the College of Medicine’s Chattanooga and Knoxville campuses. Students gathered with friends, family, and faculty to await their match results.

“The class of 2024 had an incredible match, and I could not be prouder. I look forward to following their career paths as I know they will accomplish much during residency and beyond,” said Catherine Womack, MD, associate dean of student affairs in the College of Medicine.

Amid the jubilation, Class of 2024 student president Alisa Phillips reflected on the moment’s significance, “Match Day is not just about our futures, but about the collective impact we will have on the health and well-being of our communities,” she said. “We stand on the cusp of a new chapter, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities.”

As the celebrations unfolded from Memphis to Chattanooga to Knoxville, the resonance of Match Day 2024 reverberated far beyond the confines of any one institution. It symbolized the enduring commitment of the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine to nurturing the next generation of physicians who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care in Tennessee and beyond.

34 students (20%) matched to surgical specialties.

3 students matched to military residency.

3 students matched to research opportunities.

Inaugural Chief Wellness Officer Aims to Transform Mental Health and Wellness Across UT System

By Chris Green

Jessi Gold, MD, joined the University of Tennessee System and UT Health Science Center in February with a goal to create a culture of wellness across the system’s statewide institutions.

Dr. Gold is the inaugural chief wellness officer for the UT System and an associate professor of psychiatry in the College of Medicine. In her first six months in this new role, she visited campuses and talked with students, faculty, and staff to get a baseline and determine what is needed across the system.

A nationally recognized expert on student and health care worker mental health, burnout, and advocacy, Dr. Gold is focusing on a systemwide coordinated

approach to wellness. The model is represented by eight dimensions of physical and mental health and is based on prevention instead of intervention.

“There’s a crisis in this country. There’s a crisis on college campuses. There’s a crisis in health care workers, and we need to be doing something about it,” she said. “We need to actively and systematically be approaching this across the spectrum of mental health needs. This role is really a commitment at the highest level to be doing that.”

As a major step in this proactive approach to mental health, Dr. Gold is collaborating with the UT System Student Success team to create the Student Wellness Advisory Council. The council is designed to bring

Dr. Jessi Gold (middle), the inaugural chief wellness officer for the UT System, is putting the focus on student mental health and well-being across the system.

together undergraduate and graduate student voices to enhance collective understanding of student wellness needs and perspectives, allowing students to play a pivotal role in shaping the wellness culture across their campus and the UT System. At least two undergraduate and two graduate students from each campus will be selected to participate in monthly meetings, a wellness summit, social media engagement, and publication opportunities to foster a culture that prioritizes prevention, support, and overall student success in college and beyond.

Changing the culture around wellness was the focus of a panel discussion held on the Memphis campus in October. Dr. Gold sat at the center of the panel, which consisted of faculty members, physicians, administrators, staff, and a student from across the university’s colleges and units. The UT Health Science Center community was invited to the Mooney Library to hear the panel members discuss their experiences and insights into personal well-being within the academic and health care fields.

“I think a lot about health care culture,” Dr. Gold said. “A lot of us feel like we can’t fix stuff because we’re in this system that was set up a long time before us and requires huge changes to make better, but I think that where we actually can make a change is in the culture. We have ownership of how we talk each other, how we help students, and how we treat ourselves.”

The event in October allowed the panelists, such as Chasity Shelton, PharmD, associate dean for Student Affairs in the College of Pharmacy, to share how they look out for each other in addition to taking care of themselves.

“It’s important for us to pay attention and notice each other in the workplace. If you notice someone isn’t doing the things that we normally would expect them to do, feel empowered to check in on them,” Dr. Shelton said. “For students, it’s a lot of work and you kind of focus on just doing your thing, and so it’s easy to miss those signs in people. So, try to be more observant.”

After the discussion, Dr. Gold signed copies of her new book, “How Do You Feel?: One Doctor’s Search for Humanity in Medicine.” The book was released October 8 through Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and it is a national bestseller after appearing on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Booklist in the nonfiction category.

“It follows me and four of my health care worker patients forward as we struggle with the challenges of caring for yourself when your job is caring for others,” Dr. Gold said. “While it focuses on health care, and we all know someone who is in health care, it is a lens for all of us to look at what prevents us from prioritizing our own wellbeing. It looks at issues of burnout, perfectionism, and stigma, among others, through narrative, including my own.”

Dr. Gold previously worked as an outpatient psychiatrist seeing faculty, students, staff, and hospital employees at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. She earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine. She completed residency in adult psychiatry at Stanford University, where she served as chief resident.

College of Medicine Seeks to Expand Pathways to a Career in Medicine

Through the College of Medicine’s new Guaranteed Interview Program, students are guaranteed an entrance interview with the college when they participate and meet certain benchmarks in the university’s Pre-Health Scholars Program (PSP). The PSP program is run through the university’s Office of Student Success or the Master of Science in Pharmacology program through the College of Graduate Health Sciences.

The Pre-Health Scholars Program is specifically designed to provide undergraduate students who are first generation in college, veterans, from rural areas, low income, disclosing disability, or of non-traditional age with mentorship, academic support, and exposure to the field of health care.

Through a memorandum of understanding with the College of Medicine, participants in this program gain a valuable advantage in their medical school applications, including guaranteed interviews.

Similarly, the Master of Science in Pharmacology program collaboration offers graduate students in pharmacology a streamlined pathway to medical school. Participants who fulfill the criteria outlined in the agreement receive guaranteed interviews, creating a bridge between advanced biomedical education and a career in medicine.

“The Guaranteed Interview Program is an integral part of our strategy to expand existing university pathways to a career in medicine,” said Dustin Fulton, EdD, assistant dean for Admissions in the College of Medicine. “Through our support, the College of Medicine is able to further its commitment to the development of a diverse and highly qualified health care workforce. By fostering these pathways, we ensure that prospective students have the

opportunities and support they need to succeed as future physicians.”

The Pre-Health Scholars Program was launched by the Office of Student Success in 2022. It builds on the rich history of the Tennessee Institutes for PreProfessionals (TIP) Program in preparing students for successful careers in health care. The PSP Program is the College of Medicine’s primary pathway program for underrepresented students.

Dr. Fulton said the Guaranteed Interview Program and the strengthened collaborations highlight the College of Medicine’s dedication to fostering educational excellence and advancing health care.

“As these initiatives continue to evolve, the college remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate the next generation of health care leaders,” he said.

“We are very excited about the partnership between PSP and the College of Medicine to streamline this pathway into medical school and the potential this has to change the lives of our students, their future patients, and the community they serve,” said Charles Snyder, PhD, vice chancellor for Student Success. “Partnerships like this are a way that we can truly engage our vision of Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.”

The 2024 Pre-Health Scholars Program was held in June (the participants are pictured above). The program introduces students to careers in health care, and a new agreement guarantees an entrance interview with the College of Medicine when participants complete the program and meet certain benchmarks.

Dagogo-Jack Honored by American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) selected Samuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, DSc, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes and director of the Clinical Research Center, as the recipient of its 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Diabetes Research Award. The award recognizes Dr. Dagogo-Jack’s 30 years of exceptional contributions in patient-oriented clinical outcomes research. The ADA applauded his work for its significant impact on diabetes prevention and treatment and for providing critical insights into the pathobiology of prediabetes. Dr. Dagogo-Jack was recognized in June at an awards ceremony at the ADA’s 84th Scientific Sessions, the world’s largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention, and care.

Medical Student Research Fellowship Marks 45 Years with Presentations, Awards

Faculty, fellows, and residents in the College of Medicine came together in July for the 45th-annual Medical Student Research Fellowship (MSRF) program presentations. The students’ projects focused on a variety of subjects including epidemiology, social determinants of health, population and global health, surgery, cancer, neuroscience, and others. The MSRF program enables medical students to engage in individualized research projects under the supervision of faculty investigators in basic science and clinical science departments during the summer or off-quarters. It introduces students to biomedical research and careers in academic medicine, and it provides an excellent opportunity for professional and academic growth.

First African American Graduate Visits Campus for Release of Autobiography

Cataract-A-Thon a Sight-Saver Again this Year

Physicians at the Hamilton Eye Institute at UT Health Science Center donated their services to restore sight to 24 individuals during the seventhannual Ivan Marais Cataract-A-Thon in June. Their services are estimated to be worth $72,000. Since the first Cataract-A-Thon in 2017, more than 150 individuals have had their sight restored during the event.

Alvin Crawford, MD, the first African American to attend and graduate from the College of Medicine, returned to his alma mater in February for a celebration and book signing of his recently published autobiography, a presentation on his research, and visits with students. Guests including UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, and students, along with members of the community, lined up in the Mooney Library to greet Dr. Crawford and purchase his autobiography “The Bone Doctor’s Concerto: Music, Surgery, and the Pieces in Between.” The book details Dr. Crawford’s challenges and triumphs, including his upbringing in Memphis’ Orange Mound community, playing in jazz bands and almost pursuing a music career, traveling the world as a Navy surgeon, and becoming an influential leader in medicine.

Dr. Rajiv Dhand Recognized as Inaugural Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS

Rajiv Dhand, MD, associate dean for Clinical Affairs and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) in Knoxville, has achieved a significant milestone by being named an inaugural Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS. This esteemed recognition places him among the top 0.05% of scholars worldwide, underscoring the global impact of his research contributions. Dr. Dhand’s extensive body of work in medicine, particularly in mechanical ventilation, has earned him a remarkable No. 13 lifetime ranking in this specialty. ScholarGPS identifies scholars based on the quantity of their publications, the impact their work has had on their fields through citations, and the overall quality of their research contributions.

College of Medicine Grad Recognized by Black Student Association

Woodi Woodland, MD, a 2024 College of Medicine graduate, was honored among the 2024 Black Student Association (BSA) award recipients at the 32nd annual BSA awards ceremony in February. The ceremony honors the contributions and achievements of graduating students in the BSA. Dr. Woodland previously served as the 2023-2024 student trustee on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees.

President’s Awards

Three College of Medicine faculty members were honored with a 2024 President’s Award, the highest honor given by the UT System to employees. David Shibata, MD (left), Harwell Wilson Alumni Endowed Chair in the Department of Surgery and director/chief medical officer of the UT Health Science Center’s Cancer Program, won for his efforts to advance cancer care. Bruce Keisling, PhD (middle), executive director for the Center on Developmental Disabilities, was honored for bringing people together for widereaching positive impact. Karen Derefinko, PhD (right), associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine, won for her integrity, accountability, and proactive communication as a faculty member and a researcher.

2024 Norfleet Forum

More than 140 people attended the 2024 Frank M. Norfleet Forum for the Advancement of Health in April, hosted by the Department of Pediatrics at the National Civil Rights Museum. The topic was: “Promoting Safe and Stable Relationships: The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences on Resilience Against Toxic Stress.” Robert Sege, MD, PhD, the director of the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine and codirector at the Tufts University School of Medicine Clinical and Translational Science Institute, was the keynote speaker.

Health Care Heroes

Nashville Residency Co-Hosts First Family Physicians Conference

The Family Medicine Residency at the College of Medicine – Nashville co-hosted the first-ever Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians Middle Tennessee CME Conference. Held September 14 in Nashville, the conference was attended by physicians from across Middle Tennessee and featured Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, as the keynote speaker.

The College of Medicine was well represented among winners of the Memphis Business Journal’s 2024 Health Care Heroes Awards. Shyam Sathanandam, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics and medical director of the Interventional Cardiac Imaging and Interventional Catheterization Laboratory at Le Bonheur, was a winner for his work to repair heart defects in newborns and fetuses through minimally invasive procedures. Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UT Health Science Center and director of Clinical Research/Medical Oncology West Cancer Center, won for his cancer research. Additionally, 17 of the 26 overall finalists (65%) are associated in some manner with the university.

Dr. Erica Mitchell Inducted into American College of Surgeons Academy

The American College of Surgeons inducted Erica Mitchell, MD, chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and vice chair for Faculty Affairs in the Department of Surgery, into its Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Dr. Mitchell was one of 76 esteemed surgeon educators in the academy’s 2024 cohort who were inducted in September at a ceremony in Chicago. Academy members engage in scholarship, events, and programs aimed at advancing the academy’s goals, which include advancing the science and practice of innovative lifelong surgical education, training, and scholarship; fostering the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration; and positively impacting quality and patient safety through lifelong surgical education and training.

UTRF’s Accelerate Fund Invests in Orion Therapeutics, Co-Founded by Dr. Deidra Mountain

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation’s Accelerate Fund, in collaboration with Launch Tennessee, has made its first investment in Orion Therapeutics, a University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) in Knoxville biotech startup focused on developing next-generation RNA medicines using a novel drug delivery system. Cofounded by Deidra Mountain, PhD, professor in the Department of Surgery and scientific director of the Vascular Research Laboratory at UTGSM, Orion Therapeutics utilizes the GENESYSTM platform to address unmet medical needs in vascular disease. With her extensive expertise in vascular biology and gene therapy, Dr. Mountain leads the development of innovative RNA medicines at Orion. This investment marks a significant milestone for the startup, which has received substantial support from UTRF and LaunchTN.

2024 Family Campaign Exceeds Donor Goal

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s third Family Campaign reached 765 donors, exceeding its goal of 700. The monthlong campaign in September cultivates philanthropy among the faculty and staff to support the university. It also surpassed last year’s Family Campaign by 141 donors. This year, residents and students were welcome to give. “Each year we receive gifts from thousands of individuals, and last fiscal year those gifts totaled more than $24 million,” said Vice Chancellor for Advancement Brigitte Grant. “As we work with community members, alumni, corporate and foundation leaders, we are asked about the level of investment from those closest to our mission – our employees and our volunteer leaders. Being able to say donations have been made by 100% of our Advisory Board and more than 750 employees goes a long way in demonstrating the investment by those so close to the work.”

CoM Knoxville Hosts Retreat

The College of Medicine in Knoxville hosted the 2024 Clinical Science Subcommittee (CSS) Retreat in January 2024 in Knoxville. Bringing together over 70 UT Health Science Center attendees from across the state, this was the first year the retreat was held outside Memphis. The retreat, organized by the CSS—a vital part of the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee—focused on shaping policies, refining clinical curriculum, and ensuring campus comparability for third and fourth-year medical students. The retreat featured a lively Sunday Social at Maple Hall, along with main activities at the Heart Hospital Conference Room at the University of Tennessee Medical Center on both Monday and Tuesday. A casual dinner at Neyland Stadium provided additional opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Pediatric Residency in Knoxville

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Medicine in Knoxville are collaborating to launch a pediatric residency program. This partnership re-establishes formalized pediatric training for the greater Knoxville region for the first time in nearly 25 years. Children’s Hospital will welcome the first class of residents beginning July 2027. Once established, this pediatric residency program is expected to grow to 18-24 residents (between all classes) annually.

Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being

The Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being (CYAW) “should be a national model of how we actually promote health,” a renowned mental health expert visiting the university said. Sarah Vinson, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine and an adjunct faculty member at Emory University School of Medicine, addressed the Board of Governors of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association meeting at the Memphis campus. “I go to a lot of conferences, and we hear about a lot of models,” Dr. Vinson said. When she heard what the center was doing, she wanted to come to Memphis to learn more. The CYAW, established in 2015 under the leadership of Altha Stewart, MD, delivers supportive trauma-informed services focused on the mental health needs of young people and their families.

Nationally Known Researcher Joins University as Vice Chancellor for Research

Jessica Snowden, MD, MS, a nationally recognized pediatric infectious disease specialist and researcher, joined UT Health Science Center September 1 as the new vice chancellor for Research. She also serves as a professor in the College of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics.

She previously served as the vice dean for Research and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Snowden is known as a dedicated mentor and a leader in integrating clinical, research, and academic efforts to advance the understanding of health and disease. Additionally, Dr. Snowden brings expertise in transparent and collaborative leadership that unites both science and advocacy for institutions, their faculty and trainees, and the health needs of those they serve.

“My own perspective, informed by my background as someone from a rural area disproportionately impacted by poverty and from an underrepresented group in biomedical research with Native American ancestry, provides valuable framing of my role in research and in particular research communication and advocacy,” Dr. Snowden said. “The human stories of how research

impacts all of us, when packed skillfully with data and recommendations, can significantly advance policy and practice, and we will do so collaboratively in Tennessee.”

Dr. Snowden exemplifies an impressive career trajectory of extensive federally funded research, as evidenced by earlier career loan repayment and development awards, an R01 independent investigator career award, and multiple institutional collaborative federal grants that amount to a current portfolio of more than $63 million in collaborative extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Snowden brings to her new position prior substantive experiences and current leadership in multisite and multistate interdisciplinary research, including a groundbreaking opioid study, as well as a major longCOVID study into the effects of the virus on children and families, particularly in underserved areas. These studies, including cutting-edge pediatric clinical trials, have engaged institutions across the country and thousands of children. Moreover, Dr. Snowden has a longstanding relationship with other pediatric infectious disease specialists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

RECENT GRANTS & AWARDS

In February, UT Health Science Center researchers Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD (top, left), Harriet Van Vleet Endowment Professor in Basic Oncology Research, Junming Yue, PhD, (top, right) associate professor in the Department of Pathology, Sue Chin Lee (bottom, left), associate professor in the Department of Physiology, and David Schwartz, MD (bottom, right), chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, became part of a $20 million multi-institutional award from the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) to develop new radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies. This vital translational work is in partnership with UT Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and UT-ORII.

Tim Jancelewicz, MD, MA, MS, professor and interim division chief of pediatric surgery, is a co-principal investigator on an $11.4 million, multiinstitutional clinical trial grant to study the efficacy of the longstanding practice of using nitric oxide to treat newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully develop.

Guoyun Chen, PhD, MD, an associate professor of Pediatrics Research at the UT Health Science Center and basic scientist at the Children’s Foundation Research Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, was awarded $2.26 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to continue researching new ways to treat sepsis.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded $2.5 million to a research team at UT Health Science Center for a project aimed at finding new ways to treat brain damage caused by lack of oxygen at birth. Helena Parfenova, PhD (left), professor in the Department of Physiology, is the principal investigator on the project, and Massroor Pourcyrous, MD (right), professor in the Division of NeonatalPerinatal Medicine, is the co-investigator. They will focus on novel mechanisms that could keep the brain and its blood vessels working properly in newborns when they experience prolonged asphyxiation.

The Owen Locke Foundation awarded a $1 million philanthropic grant to Monica Jablonski, PhD, Hamilton Endowed Professor, vice chair, and director of Research in the Department of Ophthalmology, continuing its support of Dr. Jablonski’s research in age-related macular degeneration.

Zhongjie Sun, MD, PhD, Thomas A. Gerwin Chair of Excellence in Physiology and codirector of the UT Methodist Cardiovascular Institute, was awarded $2.4 million from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for a project that may lead to new therapeutic strategies to treat aging-associated kidney dysfunction and hypertension and related cardiovascular disorder.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in Chattanooga were part of a major multicenter international study published in the journal Lancet Digital Health that evaluated the effectiveness of a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for detecting polyps in screening and surveillance colonoscopy. Arslan Kahloon, MD (left), associate professor and program director of Gastroenterology fellowship, is an author on the paper. Giuseppe Pizzorno, PhD, PharmD (right), associate dean for Research and chief research officer at Erlanger Health System, was the Chattanooga team lead.

Marko Radic, PhD, Committed to Making a Difference for Patients, Awarded Lupus Insight Prize

By Lee Ferguson

Ten years ago, Marko Radic, PhD, laced up his walking shoes to participate in the Virginia Davis Memorial Walk/Run for Lupus, a fundraiser to support the Lupus Foundation of America. An associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, Dr. Radic had spent his research career up to that point focusing on basic immunology and the mechanisms that lead to autoimmune diseases. He never

suspected that morning in Overton Park would spur a major shift in his research approach.

But walking alongside and interacting with lupus patients and their families, Dr. Radic was struck by how severely the disease affected their daily lives. “The most common form of lupus, systemic lupus erythematosis, can affect nearly all your organ systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, your joints, your skin, your musculature,” he says. He

Marko Radic, PhD, left, received the 2024 Lupus Insight Prize alongside Georg Schett, MD, of University Hospital Erlangen in Germany, at the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies meeting in San Francisco in June.

was also disheartened when explaining his work to them. “No matter how much a scientist tries to consider lay language and explain things from first principles, and no matter if a patient perfectly understands all the basic biology questions, they still approach things from their own point of view. Their main concern is they have an incurable illness and a reduced life expectancy. I realized some of our basic research wasn’t translating to them or really impacting their daily struggles.”

His experience at the event motivated him to switch his approach to impact patient health and well-being directly.

“At the time, I was following an observation that was done by researchers in Pennsylvania. Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania had introduced a cell therapy that was very good at eliminating cancerous B cells (a type of immune cells thought to be responsible for lupus manifestations). In many autoimmune diseases, you can find antibodies in the plasma that react with your own tissues. So, eliminating B cells seemed like a good way to test the role of B cells in lupus. We proposed to do that in two different mouse models of lupus and set out the experiments with funding from the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) in New York City.”

The study was a collaboration between various faculty in his department, students in Dr. Radic’s lab, and the College of Pharmacy. “To all of our amazement, the study worked out quite well. We were able to show that CAR-T cells, the name of this technology, was able to remove B cells and really eliminate all the classical clinical signs of lupus in patients.”

Dr. Radic authored a paper on the landmark study demonstrating applicability of CAR-Ts in autoimmune diseases, which was published in Science Translational Medicine in 2019. He is now recognized as a thought leader in autoimmune CAR-T cell therapy, antibodymediated disorders and designing CAR-T studies.

“What’s really amazing and gratifying is to see that within a few short years this same approach was tried in clinical trials run first in Germany, and now increasingly in China. Recently, two companies in the U.S. were FDA cleared to start CAR-T cell therapies in lupus patients. Obviously, as clinical trials, only a handful of patients will be treated, but so far, the results from the group in Germany are quite stunning, showing you can eliminate B cells but also alleviate all of the presentations of lupus in the treated patients. So, we’re quite excited.”

The Lupus Research Alliance, which helped fund Dr. Radic’s seminal study, is again supporting his work. The alliance selected him to receive the 2024 Lupus Insight Prize recognizing and honoring significant

scientific insights relevant to understanding the causes, pathogenesis, or treatment of lupus. The prize aims to stimulate further advances leading to improved outcomes for lupus patients and ultimately to a cure.

Dr. Radic was honored at a public ceremony at the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Annual Meeting in San Francisco on June 19. He plans to use his award to study how a process called trogocytosis affects the success or failure of CAR-T cell therapy. In some cases, when a CAR-T cell attaches to its target antigen (CD19 on the surface of B cells, in this case), the CAR-T cell can take in a piece of the target cell’s membrane, including CD19, without killing the target B cell. This process, called trogocytosis (also known as “cell nibbling”), may lead to exhaustion and death of the CAR-T cells, potentially impacting the effectiveness of CAR-T therapy. Dr. Radic’s proposed study will guide the development of more effective cell therapies for people with lupus.

Dr. Radic has received support for his research projects from other organizations and individuals. With the additional funds, he hopes to expand his work toward other diseases such as arthritis and lung fibrosis.

Dr. Radic’s gratitude for the support is compounded by his compassion and concern for how deeply lupus affects his adopted city. “Other diseases, which may be less prevalent or less impactful, receive more funding,” he says. “But there are a number of contributing factors which make our particular metro area an epicenter of this condition. Lupus preferentially targets ethnic minorities, mostly females. Because females in general may not be receiving the necessary medical care, and because of the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, it’s a particular burden in people living here.

“Another point worth mentioning regarding local conditions is that lupus as a disease is heterogeneous among different patients,” he continues. “Different patients may present with different manifestations. So, on average, it takes over a year to two years to get your initial diagnosis. It’s even longer for underprivileged individuals in our city. Some patients only get diagnosed very late in the disease.”

Emphasizing the role of the patient voice in research remains central to Dr. Radic as he continues his cuttingedge work to further develop effective immunotherapy. “I think patients’ perspectives, involvement, and questions shape many research efforts in the field,” he says. “I feel a very strong ethical commitment to do something worthwhile with my work.”

Physician Assistant Program Among Volunteers from UT Health Science Center Providing Care at Wellness and Stress Clinic

By Janay Jeans

Students in the Physician Assistant program are among many students across the colleges at UT Health Science Center who volunteer to help provide free health care to the uninsured and underserved in the community at the Wellness and Stress Clinic (WSC) of Memphis.

Since the clinic’s opening in 2018, students from the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy have volunteered at the clinic. Students conduct exams, triage, and interview patients. Every PA student volunteers at the clinic at least once during their didactic (first) year, and many choose to continue serving. In addition to primary care, the clinic offers services in social work, legal, and emotional fitness. They also work with faculty and students from other institutions that the clinic partners with, such as Rhodes College and the University of Memphis, to create a multidisciplinary team of care to serve patients and the community.

“The idea is to model the interprofessional team concept. The wonderful thing is we have so many programs at UT Health Science Center where we have the MD and PA program and others like Pharmacy – it’s a given opportunity for students from each program to come together and work in a team atmosphere with clinical faculty from the College of Medicine, myself as a PA, and to serve uninsured patients in Memphis,” said Evan Ward, DHSc, PA-C, assistant professor in the Physician Assistant program.

Dr. Ward serves as a volunteer PA at the clinic and supervises the PA student volunteers, under the supervision of Austin Dalgo, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Division of General Internal Medicine, and Shelley Ost, MD, associate professor of Medicine and division chief of General Internal Medicine, both medical directors of the WSC.

The entire class of 2025 PA students who are in their didactic year.

“Our students have a wonderful educational opportunity and an opportunity to serve underserved and uninsured patients in Memphis,” Dr. Ward said. “We are blessed because we have students that have a servant’s heart and want to be involved in the community, and they want to learn and apply what they’re learning in the PA program to patient care.”

The clinic, located at 3885 Tchulahoma Road, is open on Mondays from 5 to 8 p.m. Its goal is to provide lowincome residents with resources to improve their physical and emotional health.

“The medical visit starts with a team of PA students, like Joey and Isaac (first-year PA students), along with medical students, who take a thorough history and perform a physical exam for the patient,” Dr. Ward said. “Then they report back to either myself, Dr. Ost or Dr. Dalgo, and we go back in to see the patient, complete the encounter and provide a thorough treatment plan along with any medication that may be needed.”

Isaac Johnson and Joey Vong are among the group of PA students serving at the clinic. Johnson and Vong said serving in the clinic is a chance to experience and apply what they are learning in their clinical courses and help patients in the community.

Vong, who began in February and continues to serve once a month, said her experience has been very near to her heart.

“I have met so many people there, not just medical students but also social workers there, as well as Dr. Dalgo and Dr. Ost, and established these connections. They’re very important because you don’t get those while you’re in the didactic program,” Vong said. “It’s hard to reach out to medical students when we are so enclosed in the PA program. It gives you an opportunity to really work with other professionals and that’s who we are as PAs because we work under the supervision of physicians.”

Johnson began serving in June and said the experience changed how he thinks about practicing medicine.

“One thing in our didactic year we have been working on and discussing is the social determinants of health, and in this patient population that we are serving at the clinic those concepts and issues are very evident,” Johnson said. “A lot of these patients are experiencing adverse health outcomes that they have little to no control over, like their income, insurance status, and all the things we have been learning about but to actually see how these things affect real individuals has been really eye opening for me.”

Dr. Dalgo said the PA program has been a fantastic addition to the clinic. “The interdisciplinary education with medical students and PA students has created a great learning environment,” he said. “Dr. Ward teaches the students how to be a caring, humble provider modeling active listening and awareness of the social aspects of care.”

“We are thrilled to have the PA students work with us at the Wellness and Stress Clinic,” Dr. Ost said. “It gives us an opportunity to form true multidisciplinary care teams, learn from each other, and model how all of us can contribute to patient care and benefit from our interactions as a team.”

Darrel Kiner, director of the Wellness and Stress Clinic and social worker, said it is amazing having students serving at the clinic and they have seen patients return to the clinic because they enjoyed their experiences.

“We work in an interdisciplinary team setting, we have PAs, medical students, social workers, and they all operate as a team to assess the patient but also get to know the patient for themselves and see them as a human and all of the things they are going through that could be affecting their health,” Kiner said. “Sometimes the medical students are teaching PA students things, and sometimes the PA students are teaching medical students things, so it’s a great learning environment for everyone, even our patients.”

Left to right: Dr. Ward, Joey Vong, and Issac Johnson.

Class of 2025 PA students Allison Szulewski, Sara Streete, Isaac Johnson, and Joey Vong

Events celebrating the UTHSC Health Hub – Soulsville (below) and ShelbyCares on 3rd (above, right) highlighted the partnerships that have allowed UT Health Science Center to extend preventive and primary care into neighborhoods of greatest need.

Neighborhood-Based Health Hubs

Bring Preventive Care Where Needed

When the doors opened on the UTHSC Health Hub in the Uptown neighborhood of Memphis in 2021, it was the first in a growing network of community-based preventive care and wellness facilities initiated by the College of Medicine and its partners.

Neighborhood hubs are designed to increase access to primary care and encourage better health for people in underserved areas of the city. The hubs are products of the Tennessee Heart Health Network of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium at UT Health Science Center.

In addition to the UTHSC Health Hub – Uptown, ShelbyCares on 3rd is a partnership between UT Health Science Center and the Shelby County government that opened in November 2023 in South Memphis. In March 2024, the UTHSC Health Hub – Soulsville, a partnership between UT Health Science Center, the Soulsville Foundation and Soulsville community, and the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, was announced.

The newest hub in Memphis is intended to serve the historic Soulsville neighborhood from a permanent location at 870 E. McLemore Ave. It currently operates in temporary quarters nearby.

The hubs offer health screenings, health coaching, classes in healthy cooking and exercise, and connections to primary care doctors and social services. In addition, the Soulsville location will offer adult and pediatric primary care services, school nursing, and eventually mental health counseling.

Along with health issues, the hubs are intended to address barriers, such as a lack of transportation, access to food, or housing challenges.

Tennessee ranks third in the country in heart attacks and strokes. This grim fact fuels the desire by the college and its partners to deliver underserved Memphians the preventive health care they need.

In 2023, ShelbyCares logged 1,770 visits from 357 unique patients. The hub in Uptown had 2,118 visits with 592 unique visitors.

All patients are screened for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and social needs. Services include individual and group health coaching for diabetes prevention and self-management, and tobacco cessation. Early results demonstrate a significant average decrease in BMI (body mass index), weight, and blood pressure for health coaching participants.

The health hub concept is expanding to rural areas as well. Under the UT Extension Rural Health Hubs initiative and funded through a three-year, $1 million Tennessee Department of Health grant, health coaches are being placed in University of Tennessee Extension Offices in Hardin and Decatur counties.

“Everyone knows we don’t have enough access for essential primary care,” said Jim Bailey, MD, Robert S. Pearce Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine and director of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium at UT Health Science Center. Dr. Bailey has led the health hub initiative. “The health hubs are the entry point to essential primary care.”

to the College of Medicine 2024 Graduates! CONGRATULATIONS

The College of Medicine commencement ceremony was held on May 13 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. This year, 173 graduates earned their medical degrees.

CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES

Justin Mark Adam

Shehroze Syed Akhter

Abraham Latief Almatari

Avery Bancroft Arons (in absentia)

Grace Eileen Ashbery

Emily Ruth Baker

Victoria Nicole Beard

Shalanda Rhaeven Berkley

Mark James Espinosa Betonio

Jon-Austin James Brannon

Jacob Thomas Brettin

Virginia Heloise Byars

Alayna Marie Cameron

Hays Torgerson Cape

Benjamin Charles Carr

Landon Reed Carroll

Martin Nicolas Cheramie

Michelle Chintanaphol

Ezra Jonathan Chow

Elizabeth Octavia Clayton

Harrison Loyd Cloud

Claire Madison Cohen

Jennifer Lynn Crook

Seth Brycen Crum

Cole Baird Dain

Matthew Paul Dempsey (in absentia)

Jakub Antoni Denkiewicz

Jonathan Paul Derryberry

Erin Grace Dolvin

William Colby Downs

Sessen Ruth Stevens Dudek

Paden Samuel Duke

Vania Chinwe Ejiofor

Luke Embury

Daniel Faradji

Kaitlin Ruth Fields

Jordan Louise Finley

Christopher Robin Forsyth

Logan Cade Fortenberry

Ronald Dean Franz II

Kyle Macklin Freeman

Swathi Ganesh

Katherine A. Garrett

Elizabeth Catherine Gaudio

Kevin Daniel Gentner

Mihir Vinodrai Ghetiya

Corinne Elizabeth Gibson

Shelby Lynn Graham

Richard Craft Grambergs

Whitney Carol Gulledge

John Cole Gwin

Arun Christian Habermann

Blake Hajek

Ryan Henry Hall

Bradley Pearce Hambly

Susanna Hamsley Hatcher

Shannon Han

Hunter Reed Harrison

Christina Warren Harvey

Francesca Marie Healy

Lydia Michelle Henry

Gabrielle Mary Hochu

Leigh Anne Marie Hogue

Matthew Brian Holloway (in absentia)

Anna Paige Horner

Logan Cole Houston

Ashton Christopher Hunter

Minhee Jo (in absentia)

Jacob Allen Jordan

Jessica Maiga Kariuki

Rasim Kazic

Kinza Khan

Sonal Vinay Khedkar

Hannah Hyun Kim

Chandler Shoemake Klemm

Sarwar Mohammed Kokoy

Sarah Virginia Kromer

Allycia Yuen Kay Lee

Kevin Maxwell Lee

Kenneth Logan Lessenberry

Taylor Katherine Lewelling

James Parker Lewis

Nicholas Liang

Isaac Henry Lies

Justin David Lopez

Samson David Lopez-Schultz

Emily May Louie

Austin Ingwei Ly

Morgan Denise Lyttle

Saivikram Reddy Madireddy

Dean Magat

Catherine Diethelm Magner

Sidharth Satish Mahajan

Nicolas Edward Mascia

Jocelyn Kelly Matheson

Cassandra Harris McCarley

James Caldwell McRee

Andrew James Minor

Philip Wayne Morgan

Marcelo Jose Morrice

Jared Grayson Moss

Jacob West Myers

Joy Morgan Myers

Taylor James Orr

Timothy Storm Owens

Natalie Kate Oxley (in absentia)

Andrew Joseph Paladino

Dylan Ellis Parker

Zara Michele Parkinson

Prisha Shashikant Patel

Nisha Patil

Kaes Edward Pepke

Alisa Lynne Phillips

Erin Nicole Prester

Katelyn Sue Provine

Bawan Faraedoon Qaladize

Laura Jean Quillen

Anjali Ravee

Kelton Fuller Reynolds

Samuel Worcester Rice

Miguel Angel Rodriguez

Avery Leigh Roland

Jarrett Rong

Daniel Isaiah Robert Rose

Alexandra Rogers Russell

James Michael Ruth Jr.

Kylie D’Andra Schall

Matthew Thomas Scott

Samuel Joseph Scruggs

Nathan Sheppard

Colin Robert Shone

Edward David Sickle

Carolyn Louise Simpson

Jonathan Clayton Spagnoli

London M. Spears

Joshua M. Stark

Sydney Kate Stewart

John Patrick Story

R. William Stout Jr.

Trell Freeman Stroud

Kelsie Renee Summers

Samhita Darshini Swamy

Martin Aaron Mercado Tan

Dava Mackensie Terry

Aaron Mark Tetreault

Andy Minhduy Thai

Chase William Toth

Amber Mai Tran

Katherine Beuter Trapani

Rohan Reddy Tummala

Joel Anthony Turner

Dagny Marie Vaughn

Morgan Alana Wallen

Sean William Walsh

Hayley Lauren Ward

Richard Jonathan Ward II

Micah Teyon White

Lauren Nicole Wideman

Lucas Jefferson Wilkins

Sally Michelle Willoughby

Georgia Jessica Wilson

Taylor Leigh Wilson

Woodi Hazel Woodland

Chase Marie Woodley

John David Worthen

Kristin Marie Wyckoff

Yenny Yae Eun Yang

Jane S. Yao

Colin Richard Yarid

Anna Elizabeth Yolitz

Erin Nicole Young

Henna Manoj Zaver

First Internal Med-Peds Reunion Chance to Connect, Raise Funds

The 2024 James H. Horner, MD, Distinguished Visiting Professor (DVP) lecture in September offered an excellent learning experience, and for the first time, a reunion event to bring former Internal Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) residents, current residents, and faculty together.

The annual Horner Symposium is put on by the College of Medicine in conjunction with Alumni Weekend. This year’s event included fundraising with gifts to support the current Med-Peds residents, as well as the inaugural Med-Peds alumni reception.

The Horner DVP is designed to provide interactive educational activities that discuss complicated case scenarios to promote the application of evidence-based medicine for better patient care and outcomes.

James H. Horner was a medical student who died shortly before his graduation. His medical degree was awarded posthumously in June 1988. Dr. Horner’s family established this distinguished professorship in his name “to promote education, compassion, and academic excellence in the practice of medicine.”

“We had a wonderful, well-attended symposium with more than 100 preregistered attendees for the topic, “Training the next generation of Med-Peds physicians,” which focused on how Med-Peds physicians embody the core pillars of UT Health Science Center in providing excellent clinical care, research, education, and community service,” said Michael Kleinman, MD, assistant dean for Continuing Medical Education.

Dr. Kleinman was one of the organizers of the event, along with Daniel Wells, MD, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics residency program director, and Natascha Thompson, MD, senior associate dean for Graduate Medical Education. Carlie Stein Somerville, MD, the Med-Peds residency program director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was honored as the Distinguished Visiting Professor.

Following the symposium, more than 40 alumni attended the inaugural Med-Peds residency alumni reunion, along with current residents. The event honored Dr. Thompson, former program director, who built the program into one of the largest and most respected in the country.

The Weil Scholars Program Provides Scholarships to Medical Students

The Weil Scholars Program from the Burton Weil Family Foundation gave its first round of scholarships to three exceptional students enrolled in the MD program in the College of Medicine. First-year medical students Aaliyah Flake, Garrett McFadden, and Brendan Walton, are the first recipients.

The program will support three outstanding students in each incoming cohort with partial scholarships over four years. It also provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Memphis. The Weil Family will collaborate with leadership at UT Health Science Center to assess the program’s effectiveness and discuss future funding opportunities annually, beginning in the second year of the program. The initiative aims

to engage top talent with strong ties to Memphis and encourage them to practice medicine in the community.

Burton Weil, philanthropist, earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis in 1966. He founded Venture Associates Partners, a private equity firm. In 2022, the Burton Weil Family Foundation was established at the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.

To meet the criteria for the scholarship, students must be enrolled or admitted to the College of Medicine MD program, demonstrate exceptional academic performance, and have a strong connection to Memphis and be committed to serving the community. Scholars will participate in an annual welcome event with the Weil family and UT Health Science Center administrators.

From left to right: Garrett McFadden, Aaliyah Flake, and Brendon Walton are among the inaugural recipients of scholarships from the Weil Scholars Program.

Aaliyah Flake

Aaliyah Flake, a first-generation college graduate, studied at Tennessee State University where she designed her own accelerated track, graduating in three years with a 4.0 GPA. Flake majored in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. Flake is also the first student to matriculate to the College of Medicine through a new guaranteed interview agreement with the Pre-Health Scholars Program, a program to provide undergraduate students who are first generation in college, veterans, from rural areas, low-income, disclosing disability or of non-traditional age with mentorship, academic support, and exposure to the health care field. While growing up in the Frayser community in Memphis, Flake recalls the lack of health care services there, and she is passionate about improving health care access and quality in underserved communities. During her undergraduate studies, she was actively involved in TRIO McNair, Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, the American Chemical Society, the Minority Association of Premedical Students, and MeharryVanderbilt-Tennessee State Cancer Partnership.

“Growing up, I missed many opportunities due to my financial situation – summer programs, extracurriculars, and more. But my mother always told me, ‘Opportunities meant for people like you will come,’” Flake said. “The Weil Family Scholars program is that opportunity for me. Despite the exhaustion from medical school, every night I look forward to the next day, knowing I’m learning what I’ve dreamed of since I was a child – because someone believed I could become the physician Memphis deserves.”

Garrett McFadden

Garrett McFadden, from Germantown, Tennessee, decided to become a physician after his experience as a patient at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital during high school for a benign cyst on his left femur. McFadden studied biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. He chose to return to Tennessee for medical school and study at UT Health Science Center’s College of Medicine after learning about its programs, volunteer opportunities, and close location his family. He’s been involved in several organizations in Memphis such as Bridges USA, Church Health, and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. He plans to conduct research on health care disparities and food insecurity in the community.

“I’m extremely thankful to the Weil family and honored to have received this prestigious scholarship. Serving Tennessee, and especially Memphis, has always been a passion of mine,” McFadden said. “I hope to continue to serve Memphis far into the future during my medical career. I am also excited to interact with my peers from UT Health Science Center and University of Memphis who have received this award, so that we can begin working towards creating positive change in Memphis the Weil family would be proud of.”

Brendan Walton

Brendan Walton, from Memphis, graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in finance and completed prerequisites for medical school. Walton is driven to give the best version of himself to the world, and his interest in the field grew after thriving in his science courses. His experience being involved in emergency departments for two years in Memphis led him to choose studying at UT Health Science Center. He also understands the health disparities that are present in the community. Walton said he hopes to be a part of movements to better the lives of his fellow physicians and their patients.

“The Weil Family Scholarship not only lifted financial stress from my shoulders, but it gave me an extra boost of confidence and motivation toward my career path,” Walton said. “It is always a blessing to know that someone believes in you and is willing to help you along your journey.”

OBGYN Faculty Members Start Fund for Resident and Fellow Research and Education

By Chris Green

When faculty members Norman Meyer, MD, PhD, and Owen Phillips, MD, noticed a gap in funding for young medical professionals eager to innovate in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, they took action.

In a move designed to propel the College of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology into the forefront of academic medicine, Dr. Meyer and Dr. Phillips have launched the Meyer-Phillips Resident and Fellow Research and Educational Fund. The fund is set to fuel innovation and professional growth by providing critical financial support for residents and fellows throughout the research process.

According to Dr. Phillips, as the department has grown under the leadership of Department Chair John Schorge, MD, so too have the academic expectations for its trainees. “This growth has included solidifying academic expectations among residents that include research, publishing, and traveling to conferences to present,” she said. “In addition, our MFM (Maternal-Fetal Medicine) Fellowship program was back on the map as an academic enterprise drawing top-notch fellows from all over the country. Their expectation is to publish and present.”

While the department’s growth and rising academic expectations have been positive, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Meyer noticed there was room for improvement in supporting these initiatives. “Norman and I recognized a gap in funding for research start-up projects. We began talking about starting an endowment for this purpose. It was Norman who felt that money was also needed to extend educational opportunities for fellows, such as conferences and courses,” Dr. Phillips said.

“A lot of attention has been given to funding research for fellows and residents, and that is extremely important since adequate funding is not easy to obtain. But there has not been much effort to support educational courses and conferences and the associated travel and lodging expenses incurred on a resident/fellow stipend,” Dr. Meyer said. “Online courses and conferences are also available and can be an invaluable educational opportunity, but again, unfortunately are not typically funded by institutions. It is our desire that the funds available through the endowment will facilitate resident/fellow opportunities to engage in educational opportunities outside of their institution as well as help fund research endeavors.”

The two faculty members consulted with Kelly Davis, the College of Medicine’s senior director of Development, to formulate a plan. The two-tiered plan involved making money available for use through a fund they established immediately, and then creating a legacy endowment that will be self-sustaining. The effort quickly gained momentum, with contributions doubling in the first year after a successful fundraising push during the annual UT Health Science Center Giving Day.

“We will consider funding proposals for the first time this year, mostly for resident travel to meetings where they present their research and positively represent the department and UT Health Science Center,” Dr. Phillips said. “We hope to not to have to say ‘no’ to anyone.”

“It’s humbling to see the generosity of two long-time pillars of OB/GYN establish this fund at UT Health Science

Center,” Dr. Schorge said. “Dr. Meyer and Dr. Phillips have been leaders in the department while providing exceptional clinical care for decades at Regional One Health. Nothing could more prominently demonstrate that they believe in our future. Our residents and fellows will now have the opportunity to pursue cutting-edge research to further benefit patients in our community.”

By providing these opportunities, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Meyer hope the fund will create a lasting impact on the department’s academic endeavors, ensuring that residents and fellows can continue to advance both their research and clinical skills while representing UT Health Science Center on a national stage.

Please consider donating to the Meyer-Phillips Resident and Fellow Research and Educational Fund by visiting giving.uthsc.edu/meyerphillips.

Why Make an Annual Gift to UT Health Science Center?

Donating to UT Health Science Center every year helps us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, community outreach initiatives, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone!

Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges, and our programs.

Your gift in any amount will make a difference.

Donate $100 or more and become a member of our 1911 Society! For details, go to giving.uthsc. edu/1911. Make your gift today! giving.uthsc.edu/give 901.448.5516

NEW LEADERSHIP

Dr. Lynn Dobrunz Named Chair of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Lynn Dobrunz, PhD, is the chair of the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology in the College of Medicine. Dr. Dobrunz joined UT Health Science Center last fall after nearly 25 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She also serves as the Simon R. Bruesch Professor and the director of the Neuroscience Institute at UT Health Science Center. As chair, her focus is on expanding the work of the department, which includes hiring new faculty, growing research opportunities, exploring new research directions, and fostering increased collaborations between faculty members in the department and with other investigators across the university and beyond.

Dr. Hae Won Shin Named Chair of Neurology

Hae Won Shin, MD, has been named chair of the Department of Neurology and Semmes-Murphey Professor of Excellence in the College of Medicine. Dr. Shin joined UT Health Science Center from the University of New Mexico Health Science Center’s School of Medicine, where she served in the Department of Neurology as executive vice chair, vice chair of Clinical Affairs, and Epilepsy Section chief. Dr. Shin said she aims to build up the education, clinical care, and outreach programs in the department and extend its basic and clinical research portfolio. She also has a focus on the wellness of faculty, staff, and students, as well as collaboration and diversity in the department.

William (Bill) Basco, MD, Named Chair of the Department of Pediatrics in College of Medicine – Chattanooga

Dr. Basco has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the College of Medicine – Chattanooga and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Dr. Basco aims to grow the department’s faculty and expand pediatric services in the Chattanooga region. He joins the college from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he served as professor of pediatrics, director of the Division of General Pediatrics, and as the associate dean for Continuing Medical Education at MUSC. Dr. Basco is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine. He was also the principal investigator of two Health Resources and Services Administration grants that created and expanded the Primary Care Pediatrics Residency at MUSC.

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award Winners!

Kelly Arnold, MD

A fourth-generation physician, Kelly Rodney Arnold, MD, established Clínica Médicos in 2015 as a groundbreaking bilingual medical home for Chattanooga’s underserved Latino community. As its medical director, Dr. Arnold leads the clinic’s staff of 50 in creating a new model for affordable, accessible, culturally competent health care while meeting the primary and urgent care needs of her growing patient population. In 2021, she founded the Médicos Mission Fund, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to align public and private support around essential, equitable health care for those patients who need it the most. Through the Médicos Mission Fund, Clínica Médicos provides nearly $3 million in charitable care annually.

As an associate professor of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine/Erlanger, Dr. Arnold intertwines the academic world with her community clinic. The Clínica Médicos obstetrics fellowship program empowers young physicians geared towards urban and global missions. This innovative fellowship provides a unique educational environment in surgical obstetrics and equips physicians with skills to care for the region’s most vulnerable populations. The robust obstetrics program at Clínica Médicos managed 2,039 deliveries since inception linked to educational opportunities for family medicine residents within the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga.

Under the direction of Dr. Arnold, Clínica Médicos played a pivotal role in regional pandemic relief efforts and championed equitable testing practices. Clínica Médicos was the first community site to receive vaccines from the State of Tennessee and set the standards for comprehensive care inside pandemic relief in Hamilton County. Over 50% of vaccines administered were to low-income families, and over 50% were within communities of color.

Dr. Arnold and her team have been lauded for their health care innovation with several prestigious accolades. In 2022, Governor Bill Lee honored Clínica Médicos with the Governor’s Award for Excellence, highlighting the clinic’s ongoing commitment to “bridging gaps and changing lives.” Since then, other awards include the Chattanooga Times Free Press/Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee “Champion of Health Care-Community Outreach,” American Academy of Pediatrics Tennessee Chapter “Friend of Children,” Tennessee Medical Association “Distinguished Service Award,” Footprint Foundation Leadership Award, and the 2015 Chattanooga Start-Up Award.

In 2020, the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians awarded Dr. Arnold Physician of the Year for her unwavering dedication to family medicine, academics, and community service. She serves as a United States Civil Surgeon for immigration services, completed the Leadership Tennessee Class VII program through Lipscomb University, and was a 2021 member of the Young American Leaders Program class at Harvard Business School. Dr. Arnold received her medical degree from UT Health Science Center in Memphis in 2006 and completed her Family Medicine Residency at the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine - Chattanooga in 2009. She and her husband, Justin Arnold, MD, (‘05), have three children, and their families are dedicated to medical missions locally and abroad.

Jan DeLozier, MD

Following the family tradition of attending the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Jan Stalling DeLozier, MD, graduated from the College of Medicine in 1982. Upon graduation, she completed her residency and internship in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Dr. DeLozier initially began her journey at Vanderbilt with the Wilson Medical Group. During her time at Vanderbilt, she held several academic appointments including instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and assistant professor of Clinical Medicine. While at Vanderbilt, she had the opportunity to volunteer as a preceptor for the Shade Tree Clinic, a comprehensive medical-student-run free health clinic. She also held an academic appointment in the Division of Emergency Medicine for two years at UT Health Science Center in Knoxville. Dr. DeLozier has held hospital appointments as an attending physician in the emergency department at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and at Regional One Health in Memphis.

Vanderbilt recognized Dr. DeLozier as an Outstanding Preceptor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She received the Five Star Excellence Award in the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Excellence in Patient Experience Award at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. In addition to her awards, she has also published articles and presented at the Endocrine Society.

Dr. DeLozier is married with three children and two grandchildren. She is an active member of many organizations, including The Priory in the United States of America of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, the Pink Ribbon Society at the University of the South, Junior League of Nashville, and the St. Thomas/Ascension Seton Society. Dr. DeLozier recently retired but is currently volunteering as a pre-med advisor at the University of the South in Sewanee.

Michael McAdoo, MD

Dr. McAdoo, affectionately known as “Mickey,” was born and raised in Martin, Tennessee, and later attended the University of Tennessee at Martin before enrolling in medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Upon graduation from UT Health Science Center in 1975, Dr. McAdoo completed his residency at UT Family Medicine St. Joseph (now St. Francis), making chief resident in his third year.

In 1981, Dr. McAdoo moved to Milan, Tennessee, where he would be a founding partner of the Milan Medical Center.

Dr. McAdoo is known within the community as an excellent diagnostician, but it was the compassion he embodied that endeared himself to patients. He has served on the Tennessee Medical Association Judicial Council, the Tennessee Medical Association Board, and the SVMIC Board of Directors.

Dr. McAdoo has served on countless boards, such as the Milan Hospital Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Health care Foundation Board. He served as the UT Alumni Council President in 1984 and on the UT National Alumni Association Board of Governors from 1984-1986. He has dedicated innumerable hours to the Milan School System, most notably as a sports physician, putting him on the sidelines of Milan’s football games for almost 40 years.

Although in retirement from medicine, Dr. McAdoo is still serving the Milan community in civic roles. He is currently the City of Milan Ward 1 Alderman, the City of Milan Municipal Court Clerk, and the Milan General Hospital Board Chairman. Dr. McAdoo has been married to his wife Dixie for 50 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

Joan Sullivan, MD

Joan M. Sullivan, MD, was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dr. Sullivan received a master’s in nursing from the University of Florida. She later moved to Memphis, where she taught in the UT Health Science Center College of Nursing from 1972-1983. During that time, she was awarded the Golden Apple Teaching Award twice. She also worked as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at the City of Memphis Hospital and at emergency rooms for Baptist Memorial Hospital and Methodist Hospital. With encouragement from Dianne Greenhill, EdD, EdS,MS, she joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1977.

At the advice of H Edward Garrett, MD, she applied and was accepted to UT Health Science Center College of Medicine in 1983. While there, she was elected to the Medical School Executive Council from 1984-86 and served as its president from 1986-1987. She was also the student representative to the Health Affairs Committee of the UT Board of Trustees.

Dr. Sullivan completed her OBGYN residency at University of Cincinnati. She was awarded the V. Bradley Roberts Award for Excellence in Operative Gynecology. Dr Sullivan began private practice in OBGYN in Ithaca, New York, where she practiced for 20 years. She was a member and then the chair of the Department of OBGYN at Cayuga Medical Center. In 2008, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Healthcare Association of New York State. She was a Lifetime Fellow in the American College of OBGYN and maintained her board certification from the American Board of OBGYN until her retirement in 2014.

She transferred from the U.S. Army Reserves to the Army National Guard in 1994. In addition to monthly training sessions and two weeks each summer, she served on many missions including the wildfires on Long Island, U.S. Military Academy (West Point), Operation New Horizons (Guatemala), missions in Japan and in Iceland, the crash of Flight 800, the ice storms in New York, and the attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as serving on state and national promotion boards. Among her many positions in New York, she served as the Division Surgeon for the 42nd Infantry Division and the New York State Surgeon. While on active duty, Dr. Sullivan was deployed on two combat tours—one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. One of the units she served with in Iraq was the 278th Cavalry Regiment from Tennessee.

Among Dr Sullivan’s Military Awards are Legion of Merit (2), Bronze Star Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (WTC) and numerous state awards and medals. She retired from private practice in 2011. Three years later, she retired from the military after 37 years of service with the rank of Colonel. She now lives in a large retirement community in The Villages, Florida.

2024 CoM Alumni Awards Dinner

Thank you to Our Legacy Society Members!

Estate of Hermon T. Abernathy

Estate of Reba Absher

Mr. Michael and Mrs. Marty Acevedo

Dr. Danny and Mrs. Barbara Adkins

Estate of Anita O. Agnew

Dr. A. Julian and Mrs. Margo Ahler

Estate of Nina Rice Albright

Estate of Emerson A. Alburty

Estate of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Allen

Estate of William W. Allen

Dr. Jack B. Alperin and Ms. Lynn Manaster

Dr. Rex A. and Mrs. Johnnie D. Amonette

Dr. Coleman Lee and Mrs. Jean Arnold

Dr. Larry T. and Mrs. Linda G. Arnold

Estate of Dr. E.R. and Anna Kathryn Atkinson

Dr. Nancy J. Auer

Estate of Dr. Troy P. Bagwell

Estate of Mrs. Carolyn B. Bailey

Estate of John W. Bailey

Estate of Leon T. Banakas

Drs. Freddie T. and Marji Barron

Drs. Randall V. and Jo Ann F. Bass

Estate of Mildred P. Bassett

Estate of Joe D. Beals, Jr.

Dr. Peter T. and Mrs. Peggy Beaudette

Dr. W. Richard and Mrs. Elizabeth H. Beaver

Estate of Patricia Becker

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Estate of Abraham P. Behrman

Estate of Herman Bensdorf II

Estate of Dorothy Swan Benson

Dr. Gerald and Mrs. Allison Berkowitz

Estate of Calvin Bishop

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Estate of Glenn Johnson Blassingame

Estate of Edward H. Bloch

Estate of Edward J. Boling

Estate of William Webster Bond

Estate of William and Kathryn S. Bowld

Estate of Bettie Lane Barnhill Bragg

Dr. William A. Bridgforth, Jr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Bridgforth

Estate of Vera Brown

Estate of Mertie W. Buckman

Estate of William L. Bullen

Estate of Chloe M. Burch

Estate of Ephraim E. Camp

Dr. Donald C. and Mrs. Kay S. Chase

Dr. Kenneth W. Christenberry, Jr. and Mrs. Patricia A. Christenberry

Estate of Jane Alvis Clarke

Dr. Joel B. and Mrs. Anne M. Clements

Estate of Emma Cleveland

Estate of Dr. William B. Clotworthy, Jr.

Estate of Edwin W. Cocke, Jr.

Estate of David D. Coleman

Estate of George D. Conger

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. E.D. Connell

Dr. James M. and Mrs. Nancy S. Cooper

Estate of Dr. George A. Coors

Estate of D. Richard Coriale

Estate of Dr. Lewis T. Corum

Mrs. Ruth C. Coughlin

Estate of Mrs. Shirley Covington

Dr. James T. Craig, Jr. and Mrs. Patricia R. Craig

Estate of Mrs. Lynne Craver

Dr. Alvin H. and Mrs. Alva J. Crawford

Estate of Lloyd Vernon Crawford

Ms. Betsey Beeler Creekmore

Dr. Jerrall P. Crook, Jr. and Mrs. Elizabeth G. Crook

Dr. Lee Ray Crowe, Jr. and Mrs. Inez Blevins Crowe

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence B. Crowson, Jr.

Estate of Ruth B. Crumley

Dr. Thomas W. and Mrs. Ann Currey

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Shannon R. Curtis

Estate of Peggy Murphy Dawson

Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Mack Day

Estate of Ella Ingram Deere

Estate of Dr. Francis L. DeGeorge

Estate of Emilie deHellebranth

Dr. Robert G. Demos* and Mrs. Jean Case Demos

Estate of Lemuel W. Diggs

Estate of E. H. and G. D. Doggett

Estate of James. H. Donnell

Estate of Reeva E. Donoghue

Dr. Sabra F. Drake

Estate of Mary P. Dudney

Estate of Charles Eastridge

Estate of Tom and Kathleen Elam

Estate of Jacob Epstein

Estate of J. W. Erwin

Estate of James Etteldorf

Dr. and Mrs. George E. Fant

Drs. James R. and Glenda McCartney Feild

Dr. Howard C. Filston and Mrs. Sandra K. Stoutt

Estate of Harley Flannigan

Dr. J. Christian and Mrs. Anne Fleming

Estate of Julian G. Fleming

Mr. Edwin A. Fox, Jr. and Mrs. Susan Fox

Estate of Dr. Harold H. Fry, Jr.

Dr. Jeff L. and Mrs. Cheryl S. Fuqua

Estate Dr. Ted and Dr. Virginia Galyon

Estate of Laurence B. Gardiner

Estate of Daniel and Dorothy K. Gerwin

Goldsmith Foundation, Inc.

Estate of Ruth R. Goltman

Estate of C.M. Gooch

Estate of Marion H. Gore

Dr. James A. and Mrs. Rebecca R. Greene

Dr. Mike Greer and Mrs. Vallerie Hixson Greer

Dr. J. Carol Grigg and Mrs. Madeline Hope Berman

Drs. Gary A. and Ann McGuire Grooms

Estate of Gene A. Guinn

Estate of Lois S. Haas

Mr. Christopher A. and Mrs. Watson B. Hall

Dr. John E. and Mrs. Debbe B. Hamilton

Dr. Ralph S. Hamilton* and Mrs. Barbara H. Hamilton

Dr. Herman L. Hampton, Jr.* and Mrs. Donna Hampton

Drs. Wahid T. and Samia Hanna

Estate of George W. Hansberry

Estate of Martha Hardiman

Estate of Harold P. Hargreaves

Estate of Dr. James H. Harris, Sr. and Mrs. Judy Harris

Dr. John S. and Mrs. Mary E. Harris

Estate of Jessie H. and Julian Harrison

Dr. Don C. and Mrs. Elizabeth H. Harting

Estate of Dr. Frederick H. and Louise Rice Hartwig

Estate of Dr. Fred E. Hatch, Jr.

Drs. Anne G. and William R. Hayes

Estate of Dr. Roger L. and Nancy Hiatt

Dr. Bobby C. and Mrs. Babara A. Higgs

Dr. David Edwin and Mrs. Carolyn Hill

Estate of C. Thomas Hill, Jr.

Dr. George A. and Mrs. Marion E. Hill

Dr. Leonard H. Hines and Mrs. Nancye E. Hines*

Dr. J. Parks Hitch, Jr. and Mrs. Ann T. Hitch

Estate of Dr. Perry J. Hockaday

Dr. John “Mac” and Mrs. Gloria Hodges

Dr. John H. Hooker* and Mrs. Marlene Hooker

Estate of R. James Hooper

Estate of Virginia M. Hord

Estate of George M. Houston

Estate of John H. How

Estate of Carol L. Huff

Estate of Helen Humphreys

Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Weldon R. Humphries

Mr. Steven L. Hurdle and Ms. Debbie L. Fulton

Estate of Gertrude Hurlbut

Dr. David M. Hurst and Mrs. Anna R. Hurst*

Drs. Kim Tin Huynh and Minh Quang Thai

Estate of Margaret Hyde

Estate of Orren W. Hyman, Jr.

Estate of Thomas Marion Jackson

Estate of Fannie Lou Jamison

Estate of Rona Jefferson

Estate of Dr. Elizabeth Johnston

Estate of Dorothy Cottier Jones

Estate of Evelyn V. and Olin C. Julian

Mrs. Sue H. Kaplan

Estate of Dr. Edward A. Karl

Estate of Dr. James A. Kaufmann

Dr. Larry C. and Mrs. Patricia M. Kilgore

Dr. Frederick A. and Mrs. Leslie A. Klein

Dr. William Jay Klopstock

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Kossmann

Estate of Patricia Franke Kouns

Estate of Dr. Ralph Kustoff

Dr. Roger S. and Mrs. Mary E. Labonte

Estate of Fred and Angeline J. Lambert

Estate of Martha C. Lansing

Estate of Joanna Morris Larson

Estate of Elizabeth M. Latimer

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. James Douglas Link

Dr. Melvin Litch, Jr. and Mrs. Debbie Litch

Estate of Alberta Longmire

Estate of Walter Lorenz

Estate of Cynthia Lott

Dr. W. Allen and Mrs. Judy Loy

Estate of Dr. John R. Maddox, Jr.

Estate of Mr. and Mrs. George Malloy

Estate of Mrs. Evelyn G. Malloy

Estate of Sylvia Marks

Dr. Wayne and Mrs. Angela Marley

Estate of William P. Maury, Jr.

Estate of Mary Garnette O. Mayberry

Mr. Thomas H. McCarley III and Ms. M.D. Moretz

Dr. John W. and Mrs. Georgia McCravey

Drs. Martha A. McCravey and Alan B. Wood

Mr. Gustaf R. McIlhenny

Dr. William R. and Mrs. Susan A. McKissick

Dr. David A. McMillan

Dr. Norman Lewis Meyer

Estate of Edward D. Mitchell, Jr.

Estate of Joseph N. Mitchell

Dr. Billy G. Mitchell* and Mrs. Juanita Mitchell

Estate of F. June Montgomery

Estate of Charles S. and Lucille H. Moon

Honorable Kenneth L. and Mrs. Linda Moore

Estate of Henry Moskowitz

Estate of Dr. Maurice Moskowitz

Estate of Morrie A. Moss

Estate of Grace E. Moulder

Estate of Sam D. Mount

Dr. John P. Nash* and Mrs. Barbara Nash

Dr. Charles R. Nelms, Jr.* and Mrs. Gretchen Goerdel Nelms

Dr. George L. Nelson

Dr. Henry S. Nelson, Jr. and Mrs. Nancy S. Nelson

Dr. Khuong Van Nguyen and Mrs. Linh Ngo Nguyen

Estate of Jane L. Nuckolls

Dr. Lester Carol Nunnally* and Mrs. Jeanne Nunnally

Estate of Elihu I. Orleans

Dr. John G. Paty, Jr. and Mrs. Charlotte E. Paty

Estate of William T. F. Paul

Estate of Louis G. Pawelek

Estate of F. Homer Payne

Estate of Iris Annette Pearce

Estate of Dr. Randall E. Pedigo

Ms. Jolanda M. Penczner

Estate of Tillie Wilson Perry

Drs. John P. Phillips* and June Helen Dunbar

Estate of Marie E. Phillips

Dr. Owen P. Phillips

Ms. Zona Hill Phillips

Dr. Benjamin F. Pike* and Mrs. Linda P. Pike

Estate of Arthur R. Porter

Dr. Bill Scott and Mrs. Kathy Prater Portis

Estate of Joseph O. Priestley

Estate of Viola W. Quigley

Estate of W. Gerald Rainer

Estate of Ann S. Keith Rea

Estate of R. G. Reaves, Jr.

Estate of Della Faye Reichert

Dr. Robert L. Richardson, Jr.

Dr. Donald C. Riley

Mrs. Jean Rothwell

Mr. Michael D. Rothwell

Dr. James D. and Mrs. Patricia C. Rucker

Dr. Jack A. and Mrs. Mary Frances Rule

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. John W. Runyan, Jr.

Dr. Robert L. Sain

Mr. Robert F. and Mrs. Diana C. Samples

Estate of Dr. Harvey S. Sanders

Estate of Dr. Sam H. Sanders, Jr.

Dr. Stephen F. and Mrs. Cindy S. Santi

Dr. Marshall Sashkin and Mrs. Molly Goltman Sashkin*

Estate of Dr. Phil C. Schreier

Estate of Dr. Thomas E. Scott, Jr.

Estate of P. K. Seidman

Estate of Dr. Joseph S. Shavin

Dr. William A. and Mrs. Catherine Clark Shell

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Leroy Sherrill

Estate of Mary E. Skinner

Dr. Bruce C. and Mrs. Carolyn B. Smith

Dr. Michael J. Smith

Estate of Norma Mary Smith

Dr. William B. Smith and Ms. Nyda S. Brook

Estate of William Todd Smith, Jr.

Estate of Ben M. Spears

Estate of Everett Speer

Mrs. Mary Bishop Spengler

Dr. John R. Staley, Jr.

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Bruce William Steinhauer

Estate of Dr. William A. Stem

Estate of Sharon Stewart

Dr. Lloyd J. Story* and Mrs. Ranny L. Story

Estate of Warda Stout

If you would like more information about the College of Medicine, please visit uthsc.edu/medicine. If you are interested in getting involved with our alumni events, please visit alumni.uthsc.edu or contact Bettye Durham at bdurham@utfi.org. If you would like to make a gift in support of the College of Medicine, please send an email giving@uthsc.edu or Kelly Davis at kdavis@uthsc.edu.

Dr. Timothy A. Strait

Dr. and Mrs. Gary D. Strasberg

Estate of Dr. Henry T. Stratton

Estate of Florence Striegel

Estate of Dr. Hiram M. and Mrs. Ruth Sturm

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Audrey W. Talley

Estate of Dr. Nancy Lynne Taylor

James Tharp Trust

Dr. Michael C. Thomas

Dr. Carolyn Crump Thompson

Estate of R. Bernard Thompson

Dr. Audrey W. Tuberville

Estate of Mary Wade Vinsant

Estate of A. H. Voss

Estate of Dr. Parks Walker

Dr. Hershel P. Wall* and Mrs. Jean Wall

Dr. John M. Wallace

Estate of Mary Ellen Watkins

Dr. Clarence B. and Mrs. Christine J. Watridge

Estate of Dorothy C. West

Dr. James E. and Mrs. Betsy West

Estate of Stanley R. White

Estate of Robert B. Whittle

Estate of Dr. Olin O. Williams

Estate of Dr. Harwell Wilson

Estate of May D. Wilson

Estate of Earl W. Winstead

Dr. Frank G. Witherspoon, Jr. and Mrs. Martha Witherspoon

Dr. Michael D. and Mrs. Rita B. Wooten

Dr. Robert E. Younger, III

Estate of Estelle Zimmerman

Estate of Elsie May Zofer

*Denotes someone who is deceased, but spouse is living

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR CoM COMMUNITY

“I strive to create a safe and conducive environment for students in which they can learn, grow, and develop skills to become resilient lifelong learners. And witnessing them succeed in their careers becomes a source of my fulfillment.”

— Aditi Kesari, MBBS, PhD, assistant dean, Curriculum Integration, assistant professor, Medical Education, College of Medicine

“Originally, I thought UT Health Science Center was just a medical school that I should go to because it was the most affordable choice, given that I lived in Memphis. I thought it was a stepping stone that would help me achieve my goals. However, it became much more than that. UT Health Science Center was a forklift that lifted me up mentally, emotionally, and academically. Many times, I found myself reaching my limits, but I always had my UT Health Science Center family in my administration, my faculty, and my classmates who would lend out a helping hand when I needed it.”

— Daniel Rose, College of Medicine Class of 2024

“One of UT Health Science Center’s biggest strengths is its emphasis on excellent clinical training. In my first year of medical school, I spent time in the trauma emergency department providing wound care and suturing lacerations. As a third-year medical student on my internal medicine rotation, I felt welcomed and integrated as part of my team. By the end of the rotation, I was taking care of my own patients by placing their orders, writing their notes, and calling consults. I can leave medical school feeling confident that I have the clinical skill set necessary to thrive as a new provider when I begin my residency.”

— Grace Anne Holladay, student in the College of Medicine

“My time at UT Health Science Center has allowed me to develop as a scientist more than I ever expected, and for that I am so grateful. I have not only learned a lot about my research topic and related areas of science, but I have also mastered many lab and writing skills. The environment at UT Health Science Center has allowed me to publish several papers, obtain grant funding, and feel confident in my ability to pursue my dream career.”

— Elizabeth Schneider, PhD candidate, Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology

“From the very beginning of medical school all way through the end of fellowship, UT Health Science Center offers opportunities for trainees to care for people in the community. I have supervised learners in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as led efforts for health fairs, community events, performed home visits, provided free primary care, COVID testing and vaccination, and refugee health screening exams. Regardless of what a student is interested in for their career, they can find an opportunity to be involved in community outreach and engagement.”

— Austin Dalgo, MD, medical director, UT Health Science Center Health Hub: Soulsville; medical director, Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis; associate professor of Medicine

“The UT Health Science Center clinical experience is fantastic, and I think it’s really bolstered by the health disparities in our city. There is a substantial need for care in the Memphis community. Because of this, your clinical experience is really elevated, allowing you to not only see diseases and pathologies you wouldn’t see at other institutions or cities, but also be really immersed and on the front lines in providing care for patients.”

— Dalton Hill, College of Medicine Class of 2025

“When I came to Chattanooga as a fourth-year medical student, I thought I’d be here for one rotation – that was 10 years ago. Through medical school graduation, internal medicine training, faculty appointments, and now as system chief medical officer for Erlanger Health – UT Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga, it is part of my DNA. It’s a place where you can learn, teach, grow, and affect real change.”

— Jensen Hyde, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine – Chattanooga; 2014 graduate of the College of Medicine; chief medical officer of Erlanger