The College of Health Professions at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is celebrating a significant milestone as it secures its largest grant to date. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded UTHSC a grant totaling approximately $3.25 million to support a new Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). This groundbreaking five-year grant, known as Reimagining Education for Advance Careers in Healthcare (REACH), aims to strengthen health care education while addressing the critical need for a skilled and diverse health care workforce in West Tennessee.
Chermale Casem, MBA, assistant dean of Finance and Operations in the College of Health Professions, leads the charge as the principal investigator and project director. She is joined by dedicated co-investigators: Jacen Moore, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences; LaToya Green, DPT, EdD, associate professor of physical therapy; and Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, PhD, associate professor of occupational therapy.
Allied health professionals are often the hidden and unsung heroes who comprise a significant portion of the health care workforce and assist primary care professionals in preventing, diagnosing, and treating various medical conditions across specialties. The REACH project’s core objectives include increasing recruitment, retention, and graduation rates for underserved students aspiring to pursue careers in health care professions, with a primary focus on medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Read more at our UTHSC news site.