UT Foundation Board Members Hear from UT Health Sciences Leaders About Our Vision and Momentum

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

After hosting the very successful meeting of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees on the UT Health Sciences Memphis campus in February, we also had a strategic opportunity and great privilege to host the UT Foundation's esteemed Board of Directors March 23-24.

These senior colleagues and business leaders, most of whom are alumni, come from across Tennessee, so what we do at UT Health Sciences resonates with them in each of their communities.

Indeed, UT Foundation Board Chair Alan Wilson closed the first day of the board's meeting with this enthusiastic endorsement of our statewide work. "Clearly, what we're doing here at the Health Science Center is really improving the lives of people in Tennessee."

During the meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss our collective efforts to train the health care workforce for Tennessee. We outlined the need for the proposed College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building and its potential for improving health care across the state. And we showcased our innovative work to expand access to health care in rural areas of Tennessee, where there is great need.

The board members were introduced to several of our new leaders, who are shaping the future of our institution, and they were thoroughly impressed by their commitment, knowledge, and cohesion as a new leadership team.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Raaj Kurapati detailed plans for the proposed $350 million College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building and its potential impact on student recruitment and training.

He told the board members the building would allow for expanding the medical school class from 175 to 250 and doubling the Physician Assistant class to 60 students per year. This would help address the deficit of approximately 6,000 physicians projected for Tennessee by 2030.

College of Medicine Executive Dean Michael Hocker summed up the need for the building succinctly. "This is not just a building project. It is a workforce strategy for Tennessee."

Board members appreciated his remarks and commented how this opportunity will be transformative for Memphis and for Tennessee. Dean Hocker also mentioned other changes in the College of Medicine, as well as the impressive momentum in the college under his leadership.

Vice Chancellor for Research Jessica Snowden described UT Health Sciences' pivotal role in transforming health care in rural Tennessee with our recent designation as the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence. "Now, survival likely depends on your zip code," she said. The center is working to change that.

Melissa Robinson, chief development officer and associate vice chancellor for Advancement, later described the plans for raising support among our community and alumni for our new College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building. All UT Health Sciences executive leaders and UT Health Sciences Advisory Board members have pledged support to this building, and she indicated that support is gaining momentum with recent pledges also among several leaders.

Additionally, she thanked the board and Kerry Witcher, vice president for Development and Alumni Affairs and president and CEO of the Foundation, for their support for bringing on board Kim Gaskill, a community leader for philanthropy, who will also work with us to advance this vital fundraising initiative.

It was a pleasure to share our compelling story with the Foundation board members, who returned to each of their communities wiser about the mission of UT Health Sciences and eager to serve as powerful advocates across Tennessee for our university.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude for all that the Foundation does to support our UT System institutions, and particularly our vital work at UT Health Sciences.

With respect and gratitude,

Peter Buckley, MD
Chancellor
The University of Tennessee Health Sciences