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

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 Strategic Enrollment Plan through dedicated efforts to coordinate and advance interprofessional education efforts across academic programs while establishing a Center for Interprofessional Education. She will also work closely with the Office of Strategic Partnerships to strengthen clinical placement opportunities and advance workforce development initiatives that support the university's clinical partners and address healthcare needs across Tennessee.

A first-generation American who grew up in Texas, Dr. Dabelić earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School in Houston.

She was commissioned through the Navy's Health Professions Scholarship Program and completed a transitional internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia. During a period of primary care shortages in Navy Medicine, she served as a general medical officer before completing her family medicine residency at Naval Hospital Pensacola in Florida, where she served as chief resident and graduated with distinguished honors.

Throughout a decorated 24-year naval career, Dr. Dabelić held numerous leadership positions across Navy Medicine. Her assignments included service as a staff family medicine physician, teaching faculty member, department head overseeing one of the Navy's largest Patient-Centered Medical Home ports, family medicine residency program chair, director of medical services at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay and assignment officer at Navy Personnel Command, where she managed assignments for more than 900 Medical Corps officers in operational and family medicine.

She also deployed with a joint task force at Guantanamo Bay, serving as camp physician for 400 detainees with the Joint Medical Group. She served as executive officer at U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command Guantanamo Bay before her first commanding officer tour at Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command Charleston and director of Naval Health Clinic Charleston. She then went on to command the Navy's third largest medical center at Camp Lejeune. She retired from the U.S. Navy as an O6/captain and a distinguished CEO equivalent with the highest executive role in a large, mission-driven healthcare enterprise, with the added responsibility of ensuring readiness and operational support for the Navy and Marine Corps.

A Fellow of the American Board of Family Physicians and an active member of the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Dabelić has received numerous military honors, including Legion of Merit Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and multiple campaign and service ribbons.

In her new position, Dr. Dabelić will draw on national interprofessional education benchmarks and best practices to further the development and implementation of interprofessional education and collaborative practice initiatives across UT Health Sciences' six colleges. Her initial responsibilities include promoting collaborative practice models and team-based learning, developing an interprofessional outpatient clinic at Church Health Clinic, advancing community partnerships, supporting faculty development and fostering a culture of interprofessional collaboration among faculty, staff and students. She will also serve as liaison to the vice chancellor for Strategic Partnerships to optimize clinical placement opportunities statewide, support healthcare workforce pipeline initiatives and coordinate efforts with the Government Relations and Advocacy team to strengthen the university's role as Tennessee's primary public institution for healthcare workforce training.

"We are extremely fortunate to welcome Anja to AFSA and to UT Health Sciences," said Cindy Russell, PhD, vice chancellor of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs (AFSA) and chief academic officer. "Anja served a decorated 24-year career in service to our country and now, in her retirement, she brings her immeasurable expertise and extensive executive leadership experience to us. Her history of 'firsts' in her command and her significant operational and clinical achievements make her an exceptional fit to lead these vital strategic initiatives that will ensure we remain the top choice for applicants to our academic programs."

Dr. Dabelić said her leadership philosophy is grounded in purpose and optimism.

"I choose positivity as a discipline, not an emotion. Every challenge is an opportunity to lead, every person deserves to be lifted, and every day offers a chance to make a meaningful difference. A positive attitude, paired with purposeful action, will yield positive results."

With extensive operational, clinical, educational and executive leadership experience, Dr. Dabelić brings a strong foundation to advancing interprofessional education, strengthening clinical partnerships and supporting the development of Tennessee's future healthcare workforce.