People: Faculty News


UT Health Science Center’s Liza Makowski, PhD, Helps Lead Global Conversation on GLP-1 Drugs and Cancer Risk

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Portrait of Dr. Liza Makowski

Blockbuster drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound have transformed obesity care for millions of Americans, making them some of the most talked-about medical breakthroughs of the decade. Yet several questions remain, including their long-term effects on cancer risk. A new commentary co-authored by Professor Liza Makowski, PhD, associate director for Education and Development in the… Read More


Pro Bono Pediatric OT Clinic’s Art Auction Continues Sold-Out Streak

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Students in the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center

The Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center (RKSTC) recently wrapped up its annual art auction, raising more than $5,000 to provide free occupational therapy services for underserved children in the community. The clinic is still accepting financial donations. Additionally, artists or programs interested in participating next year are encouraged to connect with RKSTC to learn more… Read More


College of Pharmacy Alumnus and Affiliate Professor Elected to National Academy of Medicine

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Headshot of Dr. David Rogers

P. David Rogers, PharmD, PhD, an alumnus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy and an affiliate professor in the college’s Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, has been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for his pioneering work in medical mycology and antifungal pharmacology. Election to… Read More


Homegrown Memphian Rises to Challenge of Student Leadership

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Photo of Avery Dargie with a view of Memphis through the window behind her.

Medical school is hard enough, but students like Avery Dargie add another challenging layer. In Dargie’s last year, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center student leadership funnel led her to Medical Student Executive Council (MSEC) president.  “MSEC acts like an umbrella,” she says, “with numerous committees falling under it that allow for leaders to… Read More


2025 Nursing Magazine Focuses on College’s Expanding Reach in Tennessee Communities

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Cover of Nursing Magazine

With a deepened dedication to rural communities, the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is answering the call to care for the people of Tennessee. The fall 2025 issue of Nursing Magazine shares stories of the faculty, students, and alumni who are expanding access, elevating care, and helping communities thrive.… Read More


Rethinking Social Drinking: UT Health Science Center Researcher Explores Science Behind Social Influence on Alcohol Use

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Headshot of Dr. Brendan Tunstall

When Brendan Tunstall, PhD, looks at the science of addiction, he sees something missing. “For all we’ve learned about the pharmacology and neurobiology of alcohol use disorder,” he said, “in preclinical behavioral research, historically, we’ve largely ignored one factor known to powerfully influence human behavior—other people.” Dr. Tunstall, assistant professor of Pharmacology in the College… Read More


‘We Are Family’: Fourth Annual Family Campaign Reaches Goal

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Photo of employees at the Family Campaign celebration

As the 2025 UT Health Science Center Family Campaign ends, campaign leaders say the effort is about far more than fundraising. “Family Campaign is about unity, pride, and investing in the community and resources that make UT Health Science Center thrive,” said Vice Chancellor for Advancement Brigitte Grant. “It takes all of us to advance… Read More


New Statewide Effort Aims to Tackle Cancer Crisis

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Photo of a researcher in a cancer lab.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center will host the inaugural Tennessee Statewide Cancer Collaborative on October 29–30, 2025, at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The two-day conference aims to unite researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to chart a path toward a stronger, more coordinated statewide cancer strategy. With the theme “Advancing Cancer Research Across Tennessee,”… Read More