Campus: Memphis

Donors Invest $34 Million in the Future of UT Health Sciences During Fiscal Year 2026

Written by Aimee C. McMillin

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Clinical CareEducationPublic ServiceResearch
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center stone arches, with a building with the UT logo in the background.

The University of Tennessee Health Sciences secured $34 million in philanthropic support during fiscal year 2026, reflecting growing momentum behind the institution and confidence in its mission to transform healthcare through education, training, clinical care, research and service. The total represents a 66% increase over the previous year’s fundraising results. As part of the University… Read More

Landmark Aging Study by UT Health Sciences Researcher Published in Nature

Written by Lee Ferguson

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Research
Portrait of Dr. Rob Williams in the lab

A University of Tennessee Health Sciences researcher has published findings that could reshape how medicine approaches aging, longevity and late-life health, including the prospect of personalized interventions that keep people healthier longer. Rob Williams, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics in the College of Medicine, is the lead author… Read More

Dr. Tejesh Patel Appointed to Dual Chair Role in Pathology and Dermatology

Written by Brianna Peck

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Clinical CareEducation
Dr. Tejesh Patel headshot

Tejesh Patel, MD, FAAD, has been named chair of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Medicine’s Department of Pathology, effective July 1. Dr. Patel has served as interim chair since March 2024. He has also served as chair of the Kaplan-Amonette Department of Dermatology since 2018 and will now lead both departments. “Being… Read More

How Future Healers Stay Human

Written by Chris Green

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Clinical CareEducation
Pepper Mason and Emily Lu working together on a painting.

Students Turn to Art for Connection, Identity and Relief in High-Pressure Environment Long before she became a medical student, Emily Lu learned to understand people by drawing their faces. Growing up near Nashville after immigrating with her family from China, she found portrait drawing a way to form connections that transcended language or cultural barriers.… Read More

UT Health Sciences Names Inaugural Assistant Vice Chancellor for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice

Written by Communications and Marketing

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Education
Anja Dabelic headshot

The University of Tennessee Health Sciences has appointed Anja Dabelić, MD, FAAFP, assistant vice chancellor of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) to lead initiatives supporting interprofessional education and collaborative practice, academic clinical partnerships and workforce development across the university. In this role, Dr. Dabelić will support key priorities outlined in the UT System’s and university’s… Read More

From Honeymoon to Pitch Table: UT Health Sciences Graduate Student Embodies ‘Discovery to Impact’

Written by Lee Ferguson

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Research
Portrait of CJ Rudolph in the lab with a scoliosis brace on the counter next to him.

On June 18, CJ Rudolph landed in Memphis at 1 a.m. after nearly 24 hours of travel home from his honeymoon. By mid-day, he was standing before a room of researchers, investors and industry leaders pitching a medical device he had spent three years developing. Hours later, the third-year University of Tennessee Health Sciences biomedical… Read More

Community Pharmacy Residency Program Study Leads to Expanded Access to Diabetes Care in Tennessee

Written by Nathan Ball

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Clinical CareResearch
Two pharmacists in white coats speak with a patient

The University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Pharmacy’s PGY-1 Community-Based Residency Program, in collaboration with Kroger Health, has developed a successful model for expanding access to A1C testing in community pharmacies. A pilot study conducted by the residency program and Kroger Health, completed in May 2026, found standardized A1C testing in community pharmacies improved… Read More

Researcher Receives $466,000 Federal Grant to Study Eye Damage from Chemical Warfare Agents

Written by Lee Ferguson

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Research
Dr. Nawajes Mandal looks into a microscope

Nawajes Mandal, PhD, professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences, has been awarded a $466,103 grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate how chemical warfare agents, specifically blister agents like mustard gas, damage the eyes and cause long-term vision loss. Blister agents like… Read More