UT Health Science Center 2023-24 Annual Report

Statewide

RESEARCH RESEARCH

Developing

Statewide

OUR LEADERSHIP

Chancellor

Peter Buckley, MD

Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer

Raaj Kurapati

Vice Chancellor, Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs

Cynthia Russell, PhD, RN

Vice Chancellor, Strategic Partnerships

Paul Wesolowski, MBA

Vice Chancellor, Advancement

Brigitte Grant, MBA

Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

Chandra Alston, EdD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Vice Chancellor, Communications and Marketing

Sally Badoud, MBA

Interim Vice Chancellor for Research

Wesley Byerly, PharmD

COLLEGE DEANS

Dentistry

James C. Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD

Graduate Health Sciences

Donald Thomason, PhD

Health Professions

Stephen E. Alway, PhD, FACSM

Medicine

Interim Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs

G. Nicholas Verne, MD

Dean – Knoxville

Robert Craft, MD

Dean – Chattanooga

James Haynes, MD, MBA, FAAFP

Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education – Nashville

Brian Wilcox, MD

Nursing

Wendy Likes, PhD, DNSc, APRN-BC, FAAN, FAANP

Pharmacy

Reginald Frye, PharmD, PhD, FCCP

CREDITS

Content

Chris Green

Janay Jeans

Peggy Reisser

Design

Adam Gaines

Photography

Caleb Jia 6 10 14 18 22 28

ACADEMICS

Training the Next Generation

CLINICAL CARE

Caring for Tennessee

RESEARCH

Finding the Answers

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Serving Our Communities

PHILANTHROPY

Cultivating Support

STUDENTS SPEAK Next Generation Voices

FULFILLING OUR VISION

Four simple words make up the new vision that will move us into a brighter future for our institution and for Tennessee.

Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.

As Tennessee’s statewide academic health science institution, we chose these words to anchor our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan because we believe we can make a difference in the lives and health of every Tennessean. In doing that, we will improve communities from the Mississippi River in the west to the Smoky Mountains in the east.

Every day, we strive to deliver on this vision through our vital missions of collaborative and inclusive education, research and scholarship, clinical care, and public service. We work in partnership with hospitals, clinics, government agencies, and community organizations across the state.

We adopted the plan and its lofty vision last June. Already, we have achieved major successes, and we are laying the groundwork for many more.

Efforts already underway include neighborhood health hubs, rural outreach, community service, and statewide research collaborations. All are helping to spread the university’s impact statewide.

These words by Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, sum up the journey ahead: “What we do matters. Our vision is meaningful, not just for us, but for everyone in Tennessee.”

6

4 1 COLLEGES

Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy

CLINICAL CAMPUSES

Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga

(Latest figures available)

3,123

Enrollment (Fall 2023)

93%

FY23 Graduation Rate (94% Graduate/Professional, 89% Undergraduate)

3,904 Regular and Temporary Employees

1,115 Degrees Awarded

Tennessee Rankings*

#1 BSN Program

#1 College of Pharmacy

#1 Physician Assistant Program

*U.S. News and World Report

1,413

Residents and Fellows

53,826

Health Care Professionals Educated and Trained Since Founding in 1911

$100,877,769

Research Grants and Contracts (FY23)

$654,000,000

General Operating Budget

National Rankings*

#19 College of Pharmacy among U.S. Pharmacy schools

#18 College of Medicine for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas

#22 Audiology Program

#24 College of Medicine for Primary Care

#25 DNP Program

#41 Occupational Therapy Program

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION

“We have been around for a long time, since 1911. That means we have trained generations of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and scientists. We make academic medicine every day.”

Chancellor Peter Buckley

Our students are the future of health care for Tennessee. With nationally ranked programs and an increasing number of offerings, we strive to deliver high-quality, innovative, and interprofessional education to improve the health of Tennesseans.

UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

• Is the largest educator of health care professionals in Tennessee.

• Trains the largest number of residents in Tennessee.

• Trains 75% of Tennessee’s dentists.

• Trains 36% of Tennessee’s practicing pharmacists.

• Trains the largest number of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates in Tennessee.

• Trains health professions graduates in several fields, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and speech pathology, diagnostic and health sciences, with 62% remaining in Tennessee after graduation.

ENROLLMENT BY COLLEGE (Fall 2023)

499 Dentistry

315 Graduate Health Sciences

586 Health Professions

757 Medicine

480 Nursing

486 Pharmacy

ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• The College of Medicine received full accreditation for the maximum term from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

• Of the 173 medical students who matched on March 15 for Match Day 2024, 39% will remain in Tennessee for their residency programs, 31% will stay at UT Health Science Center for residency, 45% matched to primary care specialties.

• The College of Pharmacy welcomed the first cohorts of students who will complete all four years in the college’s Nashville or Knoxville locations. The college removed the requirement to spend the first two years in Memphis to make pharmacy education more accessible across the state.

• The College of Dentistry expanded its student body, increasing its incoming dental student class to 120 and dental hygiene class to 30, as part of its five-year $53 million Healthy Smiles Initiative in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health to increase the dental workforce in Tennessee.

• The College of Health Professions grew its Pathologists’ Assistant Master of Health Science Program incoming cohort from seven to 12 students to meet the needs for qualified pathologists’ assistants.

• The College of Graduate Health Sciences held its inaugural Internship Day to expose trainees to career opportunities in industry.

• The College of Nursing doubled its Partnership Enrollment Program from five to 10 partner colleges and universities to address the nursing shortage in Tennessee.

CARING FOR TENNESSEE

“We have a long tradition and deep commitment to educate our residents, fellows and medical students, as well as all our health professions students, and doing it in an interdisciplinary way that puts the patient front and center.”

Jim Bailey, MD, executive director of the Tennessee Population Health Consortium and Robert S. Pearce Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine at UT Health Science Center

With clinical and education sites in partnership with major hospitals in Tennessee’s largest cities and more than 888 clinical and instructional sites across the state, our students, trainees, and faculty provide high-quality health care from one end of the state to the other. Additionally, our expanding network of dental clinics for the uninsured and underinsured in rural areas across the state increases access to oral health care for the citizens of Tennessee.

HOSPITAL PARTNERS

• Regional One Health

• Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

• Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

• Baptist Memorial Health Care

• Memphis VA Medical Center

• St. Francis Hospital

Clinical Practice Partners

• University Clinical Health

• Dental Faculty Practice

• UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists

• UT Regional One Physicians

• The Center on Developmental Disabilities

• Hamilton Eye Institute

• University Therapists

• Methodist University Transplant Institute

Statewide

• West Tennessee Medical Group (Jackson) Memphis

• Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville

• Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga

• The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville

• West Tennessee Healthcare – Jackson Madison County General Hospital, Jackson

• Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute

• UT Health Science Center Cancer Program

• West Cancer Center

• University Health Services

• Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics

• University Surgical Associates of Chattanooga

• Erlanger Medical Group

CLINICAL CARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• The College of Medicine in Knoxville marked its 25-year partnership with the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The college has 556 faculty members with 282 paid and 274 volunteer or adjunct, and 262 residents and fellows providing care at the hospital to the people of Knoxville.

• The College of Medicine in Chattanooga celebrated its 50-year partnership with Erlanger Health Care, where 172 paid faculty, 95 volunteer faculty, 200 residents and fellows provide care to the citizens of Chattanooga and surrounding communities.

• The College of Medicine in Nashville marked its 10-year partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas, producing approximately 35 physicians for the Tennessee workforce every year and training about 100 medical students annually.

• The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology in the College of Health Professions provided more than 12,000 services to patients in Knoxville and the surrounding area.

• The College of Nursing graduated its inaugural cohort of its Doctor of Nursing Practice concentration in Midwifery, which is designed to increase the number and diversity of midwives in the Delta region.

• The College of Dentistry in collaboration with community partners is progressing with the construction of a new dental training clinic in Kingsport, Tennessee, another positive outcome of the Healthy Smiles Initiative.

• The UT Health Science Center Nursing Mobile Health Unit provides services in Lake and Lauderdale counties with a full-time nurse practitioner and medical assistant, as well as nursing students. The unit began offering services in October 2023 and had conducted 100 visits by mid-April. The rural outreach developed 16 partnerships and included students in 24 rural and underserved events. Currently, 51 Bachelor of Nursing Science (BSN) and eight Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students participate in the rural health unit. The DNP students have completed 841 hours in rural areas.

Altha Stewart, MD, senior associate dean for Community Health Engagement in the College of Medicine and founding director of the Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being, was recognized for her distinguished career in psychiatry with the 2023 C. Charles Burlingame, MD, Award from the Hartford HealthCare Institute of Living. The award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding leadership and lifetime achievement in psychiatric research and education.

FINDING THE ANSWERS

“The benefit of the statewide research the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has is we have the opportunity to have unique campuses across the state that have unique opportunities. This allows us to be diverse in the way we think and the problems we want to solve.”

Jonathan Wall, PhD, assistant dean for Research in the College of Medicine in Knoxville

Major grant awards, statewide collaborations, and entrepreneurship marked the research effort, as our scientists seek the cures for the diseases that affect our population in Tennessee.

$100,877,868 $130,471,769

Grant and Contract Awards

Research Expenditures (related to research and development)

$685,529,442

Submitted Proposals

RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• UT Research Foundation, which promotes commercialization of intellectual property, reported 54 invention disclosures, 47 patents filed, seven patents issued, 23 licenses and options, 51 other agreements, and three startups from UT Health Science Center researchers in FY23.

• $5.4 Million

Colleen Jonsson, PhD, professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, and Bernd Meibohm, PhD, professor in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a study evaluating optimized lead candidates for encephalitic Alphaviruses in animal models.

• A drug candidate to treat advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer developed by Ramesh Narayanan, PhD, Eric Muirhead professor of Pathology, and deputy director of the Cancer Research Center, and Duane Miller, PhD, professor emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is in its first clinical trial and has received fast-track designation from the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Narayanan received the Innovator of the Year Award from the UT Research Foundation.

• After more than 20 years of work, an animal vaccine for Lyme disease conceived by Maria GomesSolecki, DVM, professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, has received the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s conditional approval for commercialization.

• $3.7 Million

From the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to Qi Zhao, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine, for a study of prenatal longitudinal metabolomics profiling for early childhood growth trajectories and obesity rise in a U.S. biracial birth cohort.

• $3.25 Million

The College of Health Professions secured its largest federal grant to date. The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the grant to support a new Health Careers Opportunity Program to address the critical need for a skilled and diverse health care workforce in West Tennessee.

• The College of Pharmacy rose to No. 6 in annual research funding from the National Institutes of Health, receiving a total of more than $19.2 million in NIH funding and jumping six places from No. 12 the previous year.

UT Health Science Center researchers Gabor Tigyi, MD, PhD, Harriet Van Vleet Endowment Professor in Basic Oncology Research, Junming Yue, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathology, Sue Chin Lee, associate professor in the Department of Physiology, and David Schwartz, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, are part of a scientific leadership group awarded $20 million from The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to develop new radiopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES

“The goal of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is that all Tennesseans can be healthy. We want to make a difference throughout the state. We don’t think we’re going to do this overnight, but we are going to continue to try and to strive.”

Orpheus Triplett, DDS, associate dean for Extramural Clinical Education and Community Service

UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, students, and alumni reached out to offer a helping hand to communities large and small across the state

MEMPHIS

• 21,528 hours of community service were completed by 1,386 student, staff, and faculty volunteers from the UT Health Science Center community at 512 events and activities in the Memphis area.

• Students and faculty in our College of Dentistry performed free dental procedures, valued at $18,965, for 91 middle and high school students from Freedom Preparatory Academy in Memphis during the annual Give Kids a Smile Day in February.

• During the sixth-annual Ivan Marais Cataract-A-Thon in June, physicians at Hamilton Eye Institute performed cataract surgeries at no cost to restore the sight of 25 individuals who could not afford the surgery. Since the first Cataract-A-Thon in 2017, more than 140 individuals have received the sight-restoring surgery and follow-up care from the annual event.

• The Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center raised over $6,000 at its seventh-annual Art Show and Auction in August to support the operations of the pro-bono, pediatric clinic and provide occupational therapy treatment to uninsured and underinsured children in Memphis.

• ShelbyCares on 3rd and the UTHSC Health Hub at Uptown offer free health screenings, health coaching, and referrals to primary care for community members. In 2023, ShelbyCares on 3rd, which is a partnership with Shelby County government, served 452 total patients by conducting 329 health screenings, 841 health coaching visits, and 119 group sessions with 600 attendees. The UTHSC Health Hub at Uptown served 674 patients with 394 screenings, 841 health coaching visits, and 70 group sessions with 561 attendees. The two locations also offer physical activities, educational groups, nutritional services, and connection to resources.

• The College of Nursing organized a major rural outreach with the Living Healthy in Lauderdale County Health Fair in October. More than 200 members of the community attended the event, and 151 students and faculty from across UT Health Science Center – including 89 from the College of Nursing – participated. Students and faculty provided information on diabetes, car seat safety, and mental health awareness. Health care providers offered basic health screenings such as blood pressure checks.

KNOXVILLE

• The Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine in Knoxville donated 332 items from its Compassion Closet, including clothing, diapers, crib mattresses, blankets, toys, and gift cards. The department also held its Department Volunteer Day when residents, faculty, staff, and students volunteered for a day at several Knoxville organizations.

• The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology provided $38,551 in products and services to 81 patients at no cost with support from external agencies and funds. The department also performed 2,100 hearing screenings in schools across East Tennessee and handed out 400 pairs of earplugs at a concert on the UT Knoxville campus.

CHATTANOOGA

• Students in the College of Medicine in Chattanooga offered coaching and mentoring to 42 potential future doctors through the Future Docs and Medical Explorations programs.

• The Emergency Medicine program provides approximately $6 million in uncompensated care every year. A portion of this outreach benefits people in homeless encampments, where the program provides backpack medical services and supplies up to 10 times a year.

We were proud to welcome new Memphis Mayor Paul Young to our campus in March at the invitation of the American Medical Association Medical Student Section. In addition to emphasizing the students’ important role in Memphis’ health care and economy, Mayor Young, an electrical engineering graduate of UT Knoxville, mentioned his connection to UT Health Science Center. His wife, Jamila SmithYoung, DNP, is a valued alumna and faculty member in the College of Nursing.

CULTIVATING SUPPORT

“Without good health, it’s almost impossible to achieve your dreams. We are so honored to be a partner in this work. We can’t wait for the journey to come.”

Tate Wilson, chief executive officer for the Kemmons Wilson Foundation, speaking at the launch of the UTHSC Health Hub: Soulsville

PHILANTHROPY

The outstanding support of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and donors is critical to helping us fulfill our vision for the people of Tennessee. We are grateful for their generosity.

$29.7 MILLION Total raised 5,024 Donors

645

Endowments, including 28 new endowments

626

Number of faculty and staff donors for the second Family Campaign 356

Scholarships awarded to 1,482 students

>600

HIGHLIGHTS

• UT Health Science Center, the Soulsville Foundation, Soulsville community, and the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation announced a partnership to open the UTHSC Health Hub: Soulsville, that will bring convenient and affordable primary health care to the historic Soulsville neighborhood in Memphis. Representatives from the organizations, local media, and invited guests gathered in Studio A inside the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to announce the launch of the UTHSC Health Hub: Soulsville, which will open in the fall at 870 E. McLemore Ave.

This initiative is part of the university’s efforts to collaborate with communities to expand health care in underserved areas.

• Scholarships are more vital than ever. Roughly half of our students receive support for their education. Supporting those who are dedicating their professional lives to helping others is critical for our families and neighbors.

Number of members in the Legacy Society (planned giving) GIVING DAY 2024

$664,850 1,155 Total Donors

The fourth-annual Giving Day, a 24-hour campaign to raise funds to support the university and its mission to create a healthier Tennessee, was held April 23. The goal of this year’s campaign was to raise funds from 1,000 donors. Each year, the donors continue to increase.

Annual scholarship lunches held by the College of Pharmacy in Knoxville, shown here, and in Nashville bring scholarship recipients together with their benefactors.

SHARING THE VISION

New Leadership

Ken Tilashalski, DMD, an experienced clinician, respected academician, and dynamic leader was named dean of the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, effective July 1. Dr. Tilashalski, affectionately known as ‘Dr. T’ to students, faculty, and staff, has served as the college’s executive associate dean since August 2023. He will succeed James Ragain, DDS, PhD, who has served the college as dean since 2018, presiding over the opening of the $45 million Delta Dental of Tennessee Building on the Memphis campus and the launch of the $53 million Healthy Smiles Initiative to expand access to quality dental care across the state. Dean Ragain will become Emeritus Dean July 1.

Keith Gray, MD, a UT Health Science Center alumnus, was appointed president and CEO of the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Jessi Gold, MD, MS, a nationally recognized expert on student mental health and wellness, was named the inaugural chief wellness officer for the University of Tennessee System and an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The position builds on existing strengths and support at each campus across the UT System to promote mental health and well-being among students, faculty, and employees.

Trey Eubanks, MD, professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at UT Health Science Center and surgeon-in-chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, was appointed president of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. In addition to his faculty appointments, Dr. Eubanks completed his residency and a research fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

GUIDING OUR JOURNEY

THANK YOU TO OUR ADVISORY BOARD!

Faculty Senate Representative

Gubernatorial Appointments Secretary

Student Representative

Chair: Philip Wenk, DDS

Natalie Tate, PharmD, MBA

Michael Ugwueke, DHA, FACHE

Randall A. Davis, MD

Richard Smith, PhD

Corinne Gibson, MD

Raaj Kurapati

Josh J. Wayman, DDS

Speaking Out: Next Generation Voices

“Not having anyone in medicine, especially as an African American female at the time I was being raised, caused some self-doubt with what I wanted to pursue. It has driven me to make sure no one thinks they can’t do what they choose, and I direct a lot of my time on showing others that there is a pathway.”

Woodi Woodland 2024 College of Medicine graduate, 2023-2024 student trustee on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees

“Seeing how much UT Health Science Center cultivates leadership and knowledge has made me want to challenge myself.”

Christian Phillips Student in the College of Pharmacy, president of the Pharmacy Student Government Association

“As a third-year dental student, I was able to do a cosmetic case where we cemented multiple crowns, and it completely changed the way the patient’s smile looked. When I saw the final photos of the post-op, I was shocked at the work, and it made me realize that this is something I will be doing for the rest of my life. I love it.”

Stephen Ray Spring 2024 graduate of the College of Dentistry

“Having the opportunity to spend a semester with each of the clinical faculty has really helped me grow my knowledge in each area, and they are always there to answer our questions and offer advice in ways that give a different experience than an undergrad program.

Haleigh Black

Summer 2023 graduate of the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program in the College of Health Professions

“I just kind of casually get to be friends with geniuses. I’ve been elected to represent the student body here, but they’re all doing so much cool work and I’m lucky enough to call so many of them my friends.”

Chris Pitzer

2024 PhD graduate in the College of Graduate Health Sciences, president of the Graduate Student Executive Council

“I admire the level of responsibility (CRNAs) carry in the OR. You must learn this material with the mindset that, if I don’t remember this, I could be the reason that harm comes to a patient. I am excited to think that one day I will be competent enough to carry that responsibility.”

Bria Sharp

DNP student in the College of Nursing studying to become a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist (CRNA)