UT Health Science Center College of Health Professions Magazine - Fall 2025
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE
Making A Difference
Across Tennessee
April 16–18, 2026
Chancellor
Peter F. Buckley, MD
Interim Dean, College of Health Professions
Ashley W. Harkrider, PhD
Executive Associate Dean, Academic Affairs and Research
Neale R. Chumbler, PhD
Executive Assistant Dean, Finance, Operations, and Strategic Initiatives
Chermale Casem, MBA, PHR
Associate Dean, Faculty and Student Affairs
Patrick N. Plyler, PhD
Chair, Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences
Neale R. Chumbler, PhD
Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy
Anne H. Zachry, PhD, OTR/L
Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
R. Barry Dale, DPT, PhD, OCS, SCS, MBA, ATC, CSCS
Acting Chair, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology
Devin Casenhiser, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Brigitte Grant, MBA
Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Bethany Goolsby, JD
Director of Regional Development
Amanda Armstrong
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs
Chandra Tuggle
Executive Director of Donor Relations
Cherisa Lewis
Director of Alumni Programs
Bettye Durham
Assistant Director of Alumni Programs
Blair Haecker
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing
Karla Leeper, PhD
Editor
Peggy Reisser, MASC
Contributing Writers
Chris Green
Aimee C. McMillin
Peggy Reisser
Designer Adam Gaines
Photographer Caleb Jia
On the cover: Last fall, the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology celebrated the opening of its newly renovated space in Knoxville, which brought its academic, research, and clinical operations under the same roof for the first time in 40 years.
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From the Interim Dean
As I step into the role of interim dean, I am both honored and energized by the opportunity to lead this incredible college.
It is a privilege to work alongside such talented faculty, staff, and students, who are united in their passion for advancing health care education and practice. Together, we will continue to build upon the strong foundation laid by those who came before us.
Individually and collectively, we celebrate the incredible achievements that define our college community. From groundbreaking research initiatives to inspiring student success stories, passion and innovation drive us onward.
Our college is progressing with new programs and collaborative projects. And our faculty and students are making a difference in our communities and professions across Tennessee and beyond.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Stephen Alway for his six remarkable years of service to the college as dean. Under his visionary leadership, the college flourished in its mission to educate and empower future health care leaders.
As the interim dean, I pledge that our college will continue to build upon its legacy of excellence. I encourage you, our outstanding alumni, to join this noble journey. Side by side, we will shape the future of health care education and practice and inspire generations to come.
Warm regards,
Ashley W. Harkrider, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Health Professions Professor, Audiology and Speech Pathology
From the Chancellor
In 2023, we adopted an exciting strategic plan to guide us over the next five years, as we train the health care workforce for Tennessee and care for the people of this great state.
Our vision statement is four words: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.
It represents a promise that at UT Health Science Center, we will work every day to improve the health of all Tennesseans from the banks of the Mississippi in the west, to the Great Smoky Mountains in the east, and everywhere in between.
As Tennessee’s public statewide academic health care institution, we are increasing the ranks of health care professionals; delivering care at hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics across the state; and researching the treatments and cures for the diseases that contribute to the state’s dismal health rankings.
I am happy to say our College of Health Professions is a leader in training a vast array of health care professionals for Tennessee and beyond. Whether practicing audiology, cytotechnology and histotechnology, health informatics and information management, medical laboratory sciences, pathologists’ assistants, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech pathology, graduates of the college are helping individuals have better lives and fulfilling our vision for a healthier community.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Stephen Alway for his outstanding service as the dean for the past eight years and wishing him well in this new phase of his career as he turns his focus back to research and academics.
The College of Health Professions made great strides under Dr. Alway, achieving unprecedented levels of funding, increasing its publications, extending its reach to the underserved, and providing services at faculty and student clinics from one end of the state to the other.
I am grateful to Ashley Harkrider, PhD, chair of the extremely successful Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, for assuming the role of interim dean. I am confident she will quickly take the college to new heights in service of our institutional vision.
Finally, I wish to thank you, our esteemed alumni, for helping us fulfill our vision. We are grateful for all you do for the college and, in turn, for the people of Tennessee.
With gratitude,
Peter Buckley, MD Chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY
442
Total patients served with mobile unit (Since April 2025)
2,314 Additional outreach services to patients in the last year
10,899 On campus patient services in 2024
14 Pediatric patient/campers at 2025 Volunteer Your Voice Camp
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
313
Patients served at Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center
16
Patients served at the Southern Reins Equine Therapy Camp
PHYSICAL THERAPY
60 Patients served at Clinica Esperanza
DEPARTMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC AND HEALTH SCIENCE
DDHS instructed over 40 students and teachers who participated in dual enrollment or summer development activities in 2025
52 Participants (FY24)
151 Participants to date Health Careers Opportunity Program Reimagining Education for Advanced Careers in Healthcare (REACH)
37 Participants (FY25 YTD)
College of Health Professions Contributing to University Vision
A gray and orange van that travels around several rural counties in East Tennessee is a testament to the commitment of the College of Health Professions to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.
Funded through a UT Grand Challenge Grant, the van brings basic audiology, speech-language pathology, and social work services to clients in counties where there is a severe lack of professionals in these fields.
This Mobile Interprofessional Tandem Service Model is a collaboration between the UT Health Science Center Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology located in Knoxville, and the UT Knoxville College of Social Work. Interim Dean Ashley Harkrider, PhD, is a co-principal
investigator on the grant, along with Rachel Ross, LSCW, professor of clinical social work at UTK.
The Grand Challenge Grants are designed to connect partners across the UT System to address three major areas of need, or Grand Challenges, in Tennessee. The challenge areas are advancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities, and overcoming addiction.
The van aims to provide rural East Tennesseans of all ages with access to services delivered through medical clinics, school systems, and senior centers.
“We saw this Grand Challenge Grant as a real opportunity to strengthen the ties between our two universities, UT Knoxville and UT Health Science Center,” Dr. Harkrider
said when the grant was announced. “It is also an opportunity to emphasize to our students the importance of interprofessional care to patient success by providing them with real-life opportunities to work together, learning each profession’s scope of practice.”
At the other end of the state, the college is involved in an initiative aimed at building a stronger behavioral health workforce in West Tennessee. The project, titled: “BHWET Program for Professionals: INterprofessional TEams GRounded in Apprenticeship, Technology, and Evidence (INTEGRATE),” is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals.
The initiative is designed to expand access to behavioral health services by increasing the number of professionals to work with children, adolescents, and young adults facing mental health, trauma, and behavioral health challenges. Leading the project from UT Health Science
Center are Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, and Alicia Barnes, DO, MPH, Urban Child Institute (UCI) Endowed Chair of Excellence and division director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UT Health Science Center. The project lead from the University of Memphis is Susan Neely-Barnes, PhD, professor and director of the School of Social Work.
The focus of the program is to recruit students, particularly those from high-need communities, who might return to and serve those communities after graduation.
Over four years, $540,000 in stipends will be awarded to 16 graduate students and residents to help offset costof-living expenses. UT Health Science Center trainees include 12 students in the Master of Occupational Therapy program and four physician trainees in the psychiatry residency program.
The mobile van, funded by a UT Grand Challenge Grant, takes comprehensive audiology, speech-language pathology, and social work services to clients in East Tennessee counties where the services are not available.
New Occupational Therapy
The inaugural cohort of the new Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program started this fall.
The OTD program was recently approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The Department of Occupational Therapy now offers the OTD program in addition to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree it has traditionally offered.
“The launch of our new Occupational Therapy Doctorate program represents a positive step forward in preparing future occupational therapists to lead with clinical excellence, innovation, and advocacy,” said Department Chair Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L. “The program is ideal for motivated individuals with a passion for helping others and a desire to make a lasting impact in health care.”
The 33-month program combines the coursework from the MOT program with two additional terms of courses that cover topics related to leadership, advocacy, teaching, learning, program development, and grant funding. The OTD program also requires 24 weeks of fieldwork and a 14-week capstone experience. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry.
The OT Department is ranked in the top 25% nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The department operates the UT Health Science Center Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, the only student-run, faculty-supervised, probono pediatric OT clinic of its kind in the Mid-South. The clinic has served more than 1,000 children, families, and teachers since it opened in 2016.
The department also offers a Community Occupational Therapy Services Faculty Practice delivering developmental screenings; high-quality occupational therapy services to adults and children; training and assistance to caregivers, teachers, and families; and interventions to assist with modification needs at home, in classrooms, or in the community. OT faculty members have expertise in pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, assistive technology low vision, and other issues.
“Our Occupational Therapy Department is home to exceptional faculty and dedicated students who are deeply committed to serving the community,” Dr. Zachry said. “By offering both the MOT and OTD programs, we create flexible pathways for future therapists to gain the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families.”
“This innovative program is designed to equip future occupational therapists with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their field,” said Interim Dean Ashley Harkrider, PhD. “Dr. Zachry and the OT faculty’s commitment to excellence will undoubtedly inspire and empower our students to make significant contributions to health care. We look forward to seeing the positive impact our graduates will have on the communities they serve.”
The OTD program has been granted Candidacy Status accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). It must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an onsite evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology celebrated the grand opening of its renovated state-of-the-art space at the UT Conference Center at 600 Henley St. in Knoxville on Friday, October 25.
The almost $20 million, four-year renovation of the UT Conference Center increases the department’s space to approximately 65,000 square feet and helps support the department in many areas, including its focus on interdisciplinary care. Previously, the department operated in three different spaces on the campus of UT Knoxville. The renovation gathers its academic, research, and clinical operations under the same roof for the first time in 40 years.
Among other educational, clinic, and research spaces, the new facility adds a large lecture hall to seat 124 students; an apartment simulation; an indoor inclusive playground; a feeding, swallowing, and voice suite; a dizziness and tinnitus suite; student study rooms; 13 updated research laboratories; and the Silverstein-Luper Alumni and Visitor Welcome Center.
“All of our faculty, students, and clinical enterprises are in the same building now, which really encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary activity. It benefits our students, patients, faculty, our research, and is a win for everyone,” said Interim Dean Ashley Harkrider, PhD, at the celebration.
“We’ve already taken a few steps forward. We have a few social work students and an occupational therapy student doing their clinical practica here, and an occupational therapist in our faculty,” Dr. Harkrider said. “We have them embedded in our clinics, and they are working with our ASP clinical faculty and students for the benefit of our patients. We would love to head in the direction of a center of excellence for interdisciplinary care for individuals with communication disorders.”
The opening ceremony included guided tours of the new space, followed by a reception at the Knoxville Convention Center. In addition, the ceremony featured a welcome from the UT System President Randy Boyd. Other guests included Lisa Cunningham, PhD, scientific director in the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health; John Little, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist at the Children’s Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists in Knoxville; and UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD.
The new facility was the result of partnerships with the state, UT administrations, faculty, staff, students, alumni, patients, and community supporters.
Phase one of the renovated space was completed in June 2021 after the hearing and balance services, research labs, and administrative offices moved out of Neyland Stadium. Phase two was completed last August with the overhaul of two additional floors in the UT Conference Center.
The indoor inclusive playground is named after Tamika Catchings, retired professional WNBA star, four-time Olympic gold medalist, and former UT Lady Vol, who received assistance from the department during college for her hearing loss.
The Tamika Catchings Inclusive Playground will encourage communication and meet the therapeutic needs of children in the speech and hearing clinics. The department was recently awarded an $8,000 grant from the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists for the purchase of equipment for the inclusive playground.
“We are really excited for what this thoughtfully designed playground is going to afford for our patients, the patients’ families, our students, and our faculty,” Dr. Harkrider said. “The funding will be used to purchase pieces of equipment that will be different from anything else we have in our therapy or exam rooms. For example, we are purchasing a video projector that will project onto the floor various
activities that we can use to interact with our patients, allowing us to be interactive and playful but working on ways to communicate peer activities for our patients who will be in those situations more often.”
The new Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Apartment gives a realistic home atmosphere for audiologists and graduate students to use to practice interacting and assisting patients in everyday routines.
The feeding, swallowing, and voice suite allows clinical faculty to treat patients and educate students in one cohesive space.
“For our patients, the benefits are sort of limitless. The spaces are much easier for patients to maneuver, and we have a lot of specialty clinics which require spaces that are tailored to those specialties,” Dr. Harkrider said. “We were able to design those spaces to accommodate what was needed to do effective diagnostic and therapeutic work with patients that need those specialty areas.”
“At our previous location, we did not have enough rooms to accommodate patients with mobility limitations. We had to be extremely careful and strategic with our scheduling. Now, we have enough rooms to schedule patients as needed and ensure they can safely get to each room,” said Angie Orr, clinical assistant professor in the department. “In addition, there are spaces for everyday living tasks and support groups, which elevates our abilities to provide functional, real-life activities. I am looking forward to expanding our services to offer additional support groups to reach more individuals in our community.”
The large lecture hall allows faculty to teach lectures in the center and features interactive monitors, an assistive listening system for in-class audio for students, and special access for students with hearing impairments.
“When we were all in separate spaces, I felt disconnected from the students and faculty who were still on campus. With the new space, there’s a huge improvement in communication and connectedness,” said Devin Casenhiser, professor and acting chair in Audiology and Speech Pathology. “The new classroom space is great. Students are more comfortable and spend far less time traveling between classes and clinic, which were often split between the UT Knoxville main campus and our building downtown.”
The department operates the area’s only academic hearing and speech clinics. It offers degree programs for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education in audiology and speech pathology. This year, the department’s Doctor of Audiology program reached the top 25 of audiology programs in the country with its ranking at No. 23 in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools list for 2025.
Saturday Program Introduces High School Seniors to
Health Professions Careers
A Saturday program sponsored by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to provide high school seniors with exposure to health professions careers wrapped up its first cohort in the spring.
Funded through a grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), the HCOP (Health Careers Opportunity Program) Saturday Academy offers high school juniors and seniors academic enrichment, career exploration, mentoring, tutoring, and SAT/ACT preparation. The first cohort of 19 students started in August 2024 with six hours of structured activities per session. A second cohort is set to start later this year.
“This is something good and positive with students who have committed 20 Saturdays in furthering their education, getting career exposure, hopefully having a better understanding of career opportunities that they were unaware of, and also for them to continue their educational journey,” said Chermale Casem, MBA, executive assistant dean of Finance, Operations, and Strategic Initiatives in the College of Health Professions, the principal investigator on the grant, and the project director. “I hope to see these students one day enroll in UT Health Science Center.”
In 2023, HRSA awarded $3.25 million to support the Health Careers Opportunity Program. The five-year grant, titled Reimagining Education to Advance Careers in Healthcare (REACH), aims to strengthen health care education and address the critical need for a skilled health care workforce in West Tennessee.
In addition to educational support, Casem said the students have had the opportunity to participate in
day-in-the-life sessions with representatives from the colleges at UT Health Science Center, including Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Medicine, Graduate Health Sciences, and Health Professions, as well as specific degree programs, such as clinical laboratory sciences, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and others.
“Generally, a professional from that discipline, an instructor, and a student come and talk about what the career looks like,” she said. “A lot of these students, of course, know about being a medical doctor or nursing or dentistry, but for some of the other programs, like OT, PT, or medical laboratory sciences, this is their first exposure to that. So, we get them excited about that.”
Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, PhD, OTD, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, said she believes the program is accomplishing its goal of acquainting high school students, who were unfamiliar with health care careers, to opportunities for the future.
“They have really learned a lot about different professions and many of them are now asking very specific questions and wanting to know how to become one of these professions,” Dr. Lewis-Kipkulei said.
The REACH project includes three structured programs: the HCOP Saturday Academy for high school students, a Pre-Matriculation Academy for undergraduates in the junior or senior years of college aspiring to a health professions career, and the National Ambassadors Program for students enrolled in the College of Health Professions to enhance professional development and foster efforts to expand access to health care careers.
Health Informatics and Information Management Program Celebrates 50 Years of Service to the Community
In 1954, the program in Health Informatics and Information Management was established by Baptist Memorial Hospital to help ease a shortage of registered medical record librarians (RRLs) in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The demand was great for these professionals in hospitals across the region.
Gertrude McCalip (“Miss Mac”), who was then serving as director of the Medical Record Department at Baptist Memorial Hospital, was named the first director of the school. The initial program began as a certificate program because RRLs were not required to have a college degree. A prospective student was required to have at least two years of college or be a registered nurse.
In 1970, the accreditation standards of the Council of Medical Education of the American Medical Association required that medical record schools be at the baccalaureate level, either incorporated into a fouryear program leading to a baccalaureate degree or in a program of post-baccalaureate study.
Baptist then required that entering students must either already have a baccalaureate degree or transfer from affiliating colleges, which allowed students to attend a college for three years, the medical record program for one year, and then receive the baccalaureate degree from the originating college. The affiliated colleges were the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, Southwest Missouri Baptist College, and Samford University near Birmingham, Alabama.
In July 1973, the newly formed College of Community and Allied Health Professions at what is now the University of Tennessee Health Science Center assumed administrative responsibilities for the program at the request of Baptist Memorial Hospital. At this point, the curriculum assumed a three-plus-one format with students completing three years (90 semester hours) of prerequisite courses at another college or university and the fourth year at UT, which granted the degree.
Mary “Mamel” McCain was hired as department chair to lead this new program. She served as chair until her retirement in 2006, when Rebecca Reynolds, EdD, MHA, was selected as department chair. The program faculty has remained stable over the years, with Elizabeth “Beth” Bowman serving as a professor for the first 40 years of the program.
Throughout the years, the program has been a leader and a trailblazer in the field, including with its name change in October 1992 to the Department of Health Information Management to reflect the change of the professional association’s name the previous year. The departmental name was changed to the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management in 2006.
In 2007, the department began offering the Master of Health Informatics and Information Management (MHIIM) degree. The MHIIM is designed for working health care professionals to advance their knowledge of health informatics and apply health information technology skills in their clinical settings. The UT Health Science Center program was the fourth program in the country with a Health Informatics and Information Management Education accredited master’s program.
In 2009, the program began an entirely online format and began to admit part-time students. The following year, the program transitioned the BS program to an entry-level master’s degree track in the graduate program.
UT Health Science Center became the first program in the United States to offer the entry-level master’s degree. Individuals successfully passing the national registration examination receive the professional designation of RHIA, Registered Health Information Administrator.
Six hundred and fifty-one students completed the undergraduate program from its beginning in 1954 through August 2009, with more than 300 graduates from the master’s program since it began. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education through 2030.
Through the years, the Health Informatics and Information Management Program has evolved with the times. Pictured clockwise from bottom left, Mary ‘Mamel” McCain, the first department chair; program leaders at an earlier anniversary event; Dr. Rebecca Reynolds, program director, left, and Dr. Marcia Sharp, associate professor of HIIM, accepting an award at a national conference; and Dr. Sharp, left, during a recent graduation.
MLS Student Aspires to a Life of Service Through Science
By Chris Green
When Anwar Altareb arrived in Memphis from Yemen, she had just finished high school and spoke only limited English. Now, she’s a second-year student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program in the College of Health Professions, preparing for a future of serving others.
Her journey has been shaped by her interest in science –inspired by multiple family members who work in the field – and by her personal values that give her a deep desire to give back, both in her adopted home of Memphis and someday, she hopes, in the country where she grew up.
“After 2011, the situation in Yemen was really bad with the uprising and the war,” Altareb said. “Because we are U.S. citizens, and my dad was working here in the U.S. – in Memphis, actually – we came here for better opportunities and to be in a safer place.”
She was 19 at the time. Altareb enrolled in English language courses, then earned an associate degree from Southwest Tennessee Community College before transferring to the University of Memphis to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology. Along the way, she took a break to care for her two children, then returned to pursue her longtime dream of a health care career.
That dream was inspired by her uncle, a trailblazing surgeon in rural Yemen who was the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college. His path required him to travel to another village for middle school, then move to the capital alone to complete high school. Eventually, he earned a medical degree and became a respected endovascular surgeon.
“My uncle has been my inspiration since I was a child,” Altareb said. “To this day, his story and accomplishments shape the way I think about my career.”
Altareb has always been fascinated by science, and her passion only grew when she took microbiology and genetics courses during her undergraduate studies. But it wasn’t until she saw her cousin studying MLS at UT Health Science Center that the pieces truly came together.
“No one talks about MLS as an option very much, so when I learned about it from my cousin, I said, ‘OK, this is what I wanted all along,’” she said. “It has the medical part, the science part – it has everything.”
For Altareb, one of the most meaningful aspects of the profession is its role in helping others, something that became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My favorite part of it is that it’s a way of serving other people,” she said. “Especially with the
pandemic – the people who were on the front line were doctors and the laboratory scientists, researchers, and technicians.”
Since joining the MLS program, she has found both a strong academic foundation and a close-knit support system. “The faculty are amazing. They know what they’re doing, and they’ve been doing this for a long time, so they’re just fabulous,” she said. “The program has a small number of students, so it feels like a family. I know everyone in the class, and we help each other. It’s a really good environment to be in.”
Outside the classroom, Altareb has been involved in the Health Careers Opportunities Program’s National Ambassador Program, an initiative by the College of Health Professions to connect students with mentors in the fields of medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. She has participated in a series called Serving the Underserved, where she’s learned about local clinics like Church Health and the work being done across Memphis to provide care for underserved populations.
“It’s part of my religion to help people,” she said. “In my religion, you are not considered a believer if you sleep full while your neighbor is hungry. We have to visit the sick and help people in need. It’s our duty and it’s something that I really want to do.”
That sense of duty also shapes her long-term goals. Altareb’s family operates a medical institute in Yemen, offering programs in several health fields, including MLS. After completing her master’s degree and gaining experience in the U.S., she hopes to return there someday to teach.
“The education and the technology here in the U.S. are more advanced than in Yemen,” she said. “I have this opportunity to gain more knowledge that I can share and benefit other people.”
First, though, she has her eyes set on completing her degree. She’ll graduate in 2026 and plans to conduct research for her master’s project in the summer afterward before seeking job opportunities in the field.
Altareb is modest about her accomplishments, but her story is one of determination, purpose, and hope. From a teenager navigating a new language and culture to a future laboratory scientist with a vision of international impact, she represents the power of education to transform lives and the importance of using that education to lift others.
Physical Therapy Student on a Mission to Keep Community Moving
By Chris Green
As a fourth-year physical therapy student, Juan Martin is forging a path that blends his passion for athletics, helping others, and fostering community.
Originally from Cookeville, Tennessee, and the son of Guatemalan immigrants, Martin is navigating the challenges and accomplishments of being a firstgeneration student, while simultaneously building a thriving running club at UT Health Science Center.
Martin’s academic journey began in his hometown at Tennessee Tech University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Growing up in a family with no formal higher education background, Martin became accustomed to learning how to navigate the world of academia and finances on his own.
“Being first-generation, I had to figure things out more quickly than other people,” he says. “I had to learn how to cope with educational and financial challenges without much guidance.” Despite these obstacles, he thrived, managing to balance his education with part-time work to cover expenses.
During his time at Tennessee Tech, Martin developed an interest in physical therapy. Having grown up playing soccer, he was deeply passionate about sports and athletic recovery.
“I enjoy helping others, rehabbing people, and seeing other people get better, so mixing my interest in sports and helping others, I felt that physical therapy was just my calling,” he says. His decision to pursue a career in the field was solidified after shadowing professionals in his community, where he discovered how rewarding it could be to help others heal.
Choosing UT Health Science Center for his graduate studies was a natural step for Martin. What drew him to the program was its holistic approach to education, which focuses not just on academic achievements, but on the personal values and experiences of its students. “It resonated with me because treating patients isn’t just about fixing the issue; it’s about building strong relationships and understanding the whole person to help them get better,” he says.
As a first-generation student, Martin has found the support he needed to thrive at UT Health Science Center.
He highlights the resources available to students, such as the first-gen scholarship he received, which has helped reduce his stress. He says his professors and their willingness to support students both academically and personally have also played a role in his success. “They are amazing,” he says. “It’s not just a professor-student relationship; they understand me as a student and as a person.”
“Juan has an incredible attitude and the work ethic to succeed at anything he tries,” said Barry Dale, PhD, DPT, program director and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. “He has been a tremendous resource serving as a work-study student for the Department of Physical Therapy, and he will go far in life and in his future career as a physical therapist.”
While Martin’s academic journey has been fulfilling, it is his extracurricular involvement that showcases his leadership and passion for creating a supportive community. He started the UT Health Science Center Running Club to bring students together and offer a space for runners of all levels to train, relieve stress, and bond. The inspiration for the club came from his experience of training for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, where he noticed a lack of organized running opportunities for students.
“I was training and running all the time and thought, why is there no running community on campus?” he says. “I felt it would be very beneficial for students who want to run but may not know where to start or who just need someone to run with.”
What began as a simple idea quickly gained traction, and the club’s group message now has more than 100 members. “I started a GroupMe and sent the link to a bunch of students on social media, and a bunch of them were interested and started joining,” Martin says. “Now, we have regular runs on Friday mornings, and when the weather’s nice, we meet for evening runs on Thursdays.”
With the help of medical student Nicholas Yanek, the club’s vice president, Martin navigated the logistics of turning the idea into an official student organization. Exec member and medical student Lauren Donnelly has also helped the club’s success by spreading the word on social media and leading group runs.
Along with the weekly runs, the club offers resources for members, such as a consolidated race calendar and training plans. “With my running experience, I focused on the training plans,” Yanek says. “We had another physical therapy student, Dyrell Lyles, help with the strength training exercises to serve as a career-centered learning opportunity, too.”
The club has attracted a variety of members, providing a unique opportunity for students from across the university’s six colleges to meet each other. Martin emphasizes that the group is open to all in the UT Health Science Center community, whether they are runners or walkers, students, faculty, or staff. “It’s a friendly, no-pressure environment,” he says. “It’s also a great way to help relieve stress. As students, we always have a bunch of things to study for and stress about, and running is a way to get away from that while also doing something good for your body.”
In addition to running, Martin is involved in the community through his volunteer work at Clínica Esperanza, a primary care clinic serving uninsured and underserved, Hispanic or Latinx patients in Memphis. There, he uses his knowledge of the Spanish language to help provide care. “It’s a rewarding experience to go there and help patients the best that I can with my background and knowledge,” he says. “It’s also a great learning opportunity to go out there and work hands-on with patients outside of the classroom.”
After graduating in 2026, Martin hopes to start his career in a setting where he can combine his love for athletics with his skills in rehabilitation, whether that is in sports medicine or in a general orthopedics setting. Long-term, Martin dreams of having a family and owning a physical therapy clinic, where he can mentor future students and continue to serve his community. “It’s a blessing to even have this opportunity, so as a PT, it’s definitely one of my biggest goals to own or run a clinic where I can give back.”
Juan Martin practices his physical therapy skills with a classmate.
Members of the UT Health Science Center Running Club, including Nicholas Yanek, left, and Juan Martin, right, take a morning run on Mud Island.
Pathologists’ Assistant Program Reaches Milestones in Growth and Accreditation
By Chris Green
The Pathologists’ Assistant Program, the newest program in the College of Health Professions, has reached a significant phase in its development, preparing for full accreditation while continuing to grow and achieve strong outcomes for its students.
The program, which trains students to dissect human surgical specimens, perform intraoperative procedures, and conduct clinical and medicolegal autopsies, submitted its initial application for accreditation to the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) in April 2023. The application was approved a few months later, followed by the submission of a comprehensive self-study in August 2024. A site visit by NAACLS reviewers took place this May, and the program anticipates receiving a full five-year accreditation in the fall, the maximum term awarded to new programs.
“Accreditation with NAACLS is the gold standard for pathologists’ assistant training in the United States and Canada,” said Program Director Michael Weitzeil, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM. “This prestigious achievement will give the UT Health Science Center Pathologists’ Assistant Program credibility and a guarantee that our students are receiving a quality education, meeting the rigorous, nationally recognized educational standards.”
Launched in January 2023 with a cohort of six students, the program celebrated its first graduating class last December. All students completed the program, passed the national board examination on their first attempt, and secured jobs –a remarkable 100% success rate in all three categories.
“We are thrilled that all our graduates have gained employment in forensic and surgical pathology labs,” said Samantha Etters, MS, PA(ASCP)CM, clinical coordinator for the program. “Two of our students are now working in a medical examiner’s office, a rare but growing job opportunity for certified pathologists’ assistants. We are proud of all our graduates, who now contribute to highquality diagnostic patient care in the state of Tennessee and nationwide.”
Building on that momentum, the program admitted 10 students in January of last year and anticipates growing with each new cohort. Now in its fourth application cycle, the program has attracted nearly 200 applicants for the January 2026 start date. The interest in the program reflects the demand for certified pathologists’ assistants and the quality education the UT Health Science Center Pathologists’ Assistant Program is already offering.
“Interest in our program increases each year as the need for highly trained physician extenders in anatomic and forensic pathology continues to grow,” said Kathleen Reed, MS, PA(ASCP) CM, the program’s education coordinator. “Our program is building a strong tradition with high academic standards and hands-on training rooted in excellence, integrity, and empowerment. We are preparing our students to enter the workforce ready to meet the demands of highquality patient care.”
To support the program’s expansion, a new laboratory is being prepared in the General Education Building on UT Health Science Center’s Memphis campus. The upgraded space will provide enhanced facilities for hands-on training, reflecting the university’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand roles in pathology laboratories across the country.
“The addition of this new lab space is crucial for the continued growth of the program and will provide for the highest quality training,” Weitzeil said. “The lab will be dedicated to the hands-on learning of anatomical techniques, frozen sectioning, histology, and microanatomy.”
As the only program of its kind in Tennessee and the Mid-South, the UT Health Science Center Pathologists’ Assistant Program continues to meet a growing need for skilled professionals in health care while positioning its graduates for career success.
Mussoi Receives Grant for Neuroplasticity Studies in Cochlear Implant Patients
Bruna Mussoi, AuD, PhD (left), who joined the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology (ASP) last August as an associate professor, received a $100,000 Emerging Research Grant from the Hearing Health Foundation for her project, “Auditory neuroplasticity following experience with cochlear implants.” Dr. Mussoi, along with Clinical Professor Beth Humphrey, AuD, and several AuD students, are gathering data for the two-year project. The research, which takes place in Dr. Mussoi’s Aging and Auditory Electrophysiology Lab, investigates how neural responses evolve with cochlear implant use compared to long-term hearing aid use. The findings will enhance understanding of how cochlear implant use affects cortical auditory neural responses in older adults and how these changes relate to speech understanding abilities.
CoHP Programs Teach Health Sciences to High School Teachers
The Cytopathology, Health Informatics and Information Management, and Medical Laboratory Science programs held a teacher training camp in June in Ripley, Tennessee, where high school teachers learned the basics of lab science and health informatics and received resources to teach the content in their classes. The work was part of a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health. The grant includes a three-pronged approach to share career awareness of lab and data science to students and teachers by providing a dual enrollment course with UT Martin and hands-on training for students and teachers via weeklong summer experiences. Since the start of the program, more than 20 teachers from Haywood, Dyer, and Lauderdale counties have attended summer camps.
PT Student Wins Impact Award for Advocacy Leadership
Faith Blanchard-Ludanga, DPT, a 2025 graduate of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, won a Student Impact and Advocacy Leadership Award at the 2024 Impact Awards in December. This award recognizes a student from each college whose actions demonstrate impact and advocacy at UT Health Science Center and in the community in support of the university’s Strategic Plan. Before graduating, Dr. BlanchardLudanga served as the student government liaison for the Tennessee Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She was honored for organizing an APTA Local Advocacy Lunch and Learn for all three Doctor of Physical Therapy cohorts.
Lancaster Leads TNOTA to Continued Success
Stephanie Lancaster, EdD, OTR/L, associate professor and program director of Occupational Therapy, is currently serving as president of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TNOTA). Under Dr. Lancaster’s leadership, TNOTA won for the second consecutive year the Thinking Outside the Box Award at the Affiliation of State Association Presidents (ASAP) meeting during the American Occupational Therapy Association’s annual conference, held in Philadelphia in April. Dr. Lancaster’s term as president lasts until 2027.
Beeler Wins Impact Award for Outstanding Service
Julie Beeler, program liaison for the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, earned the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award at the 2024 Impact Awards in December. The award recognizes one non-faculty exempt employee from the university for demonstrating outstanding service and making significant contributions to the university community beyond what is normally expected for their position. Beeler has been with the university since 1996 and with ASP for 23 of those years. One of her nominators wrote, “Many people would be overwhelmed by the variety and complexity of her set of responsibilities. Julie is not. She has earned the respect of everyone from presidents of national organizations to state leaders, university administrators, patients, health care partners, board members, students, and peers.”
Telesurgery Presentation
Sajeesh Kumar, PhD (right), associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences, presented at the Society of Robotic Surgery’s 2025 Conference in Strasbourg, France, in June on “Telesurgery and Surgical AI: Building the Future of Global Surgery.” Dr. Kumar, who has coauthored a textbook on telesurgery published by Springer, explored global momentum in remote robotic surgery. Dr. Kumar’s co-author on the textbook is renowned surgeon Jacques Marescaux, MD.
OT Partners with Local Organizations for Student Site Visits
The Occupational Therapy Program has strong community partnerships with organizations that host student site visits. OT students support local community partners – including Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy, the Baddour Center, Kennedy Park Center, and Memphis Mental Health Institute – as a component of their fieldwork course. Through these site visits, students work with the organizations to facilitate groups or sessions and learn more about the different populations they serve.
Congratulations to Our Graduates!
The College of Health Professions graduated cohorts of new health care professionals at commencement ceremonies May 13 and December 9, 2024, and May 12, 2025, at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis. The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology held its commencement ceremonies May 19, 2024, and May 14, 2025, in Knoxville.
— CLASS OF 2024 —
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY
Sara Alexander
Emily Archibald
Caitlin Babb
Ashlyn Baker
Sophia Berk
Jaelyn Blackwell
Miranda Blevins
Makayla Bollier
Haley Bourne
Samantha Breslow
Kaje Britt
Emma Brooks
Chelsey Brown
Kiersten Brown
Julie Burks
Mackenzie Burpee
Katherine Burroughs
Julia Carlin
Gia Chaney
Gabrielle Chiodo
John Clapp
Caroline Clayton
Caeden Collins
Caroline Conley
Katherine Cooper
Tiffany Copeland
Isabella Coppola
Megan Cosgrove
Jordan Cox
Grete Dalby
Jolianna Danbury
Sophia Daniels
Emily Davis
Anela Denic
Madeline Diana
Skylar Dock
Leanne Driscoll
Haley English
Jordyn Errico
Lindsey Eubanks
Mary Evangelisti
Margaret Evanoff
Katie Grosse
Faith Harlan
Allison Healey
Sarah Hellman
Anna Hewitt
Holly Hill
Lindsay Holmstead
Jacklyn Hooper
Reagan Horn
Jennifer Horras
Kenly Howard
Gillian Hudson
Emily Ivey
Caroline Jeffrey
Ellie Johnson
Kaitlyn Jones
Macey Kash
Andie Kendall
Ansley Keylon
Chloe Kinser
Jessica Lang
Kristen Larochelle
Layne Latham
Isabella Ligas
Anne Lovell
Anna Lynch
Alyssa Marino
Abigail Marshall
Jon Marston
Lauren Massingale
Bailey Maynard
Helen McCall
Ella McCarty
Rebecca McCurry
Madison Mcdermott
Alexis Mitchell
Kendall Mitchell
Sydney Mooney
Audrey Morman
Megan Mullen
Sarah Murphy
Logan Murray
Leah Nashabi
Katherine O’Brien
Laine Ogle
Madeline Owens
Elizabeth Pennington
Mary Plunkett
Hope Rainey
Grace Rhein
Kailey Rowin
Gianna Scarmuzzi
Kaitlyn Schloss
Lily Scott
Hadley Shore
Makenzie Sims
Laura Sitton
Anna Skinner
Dynasty Smith
Chloe Steinbeck
Sophie Stepp
Annabelle Stockton
Kailey Sundstrom
Meredith Surrell
Kathryn Tasker
Sophia Vaughan
Emma Vaughn
Riley Ward
Elizabeth Wardlow
Grace Wartes
Liza Williams
Alexa Williamson
Neely Yates
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Dylan Brown
Titus E. Scoggins
DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY
Grace Barnhart
Riley Gallagher
Margaret Goethals
Cailin Hannon
Cassandra Heck
Faith Hunt
Emily Johnson
Tristan Johnson
Natalie Jones
Kim Le
Kaitlyn Marsh
Ashleigh Miller
Sarah Razavi
Casey Rogers
Jane Walsh
Keeley Winn
DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Helana Aiyad
Brandon Allen
Jeffery Allen
Ryan Anderson
Selbo Bain-Selbo
Jenna Bartow
Hannah Beasley
Alana Branch
Alyssa Brown
Hunter Brown
Alton Burgess
Anne Carter
Samantha Childress
Gianni Conti
Gregory Coombe
Sophia Cowan
Jaden Davis
Sanctis De Sanctis
Madeline Emery
Gonzalez Enciso Gonzalez
Anna Evans
Elizabeth Evans
Hannah Felder
Samantha Ford
Ashley Graves
Lauren Guin
Emma Hardisky
McKinsey Harmon
Casey Haywood
Abigail Holladay
Erin Hope
Katherine Hornaday
Erin Kelly
Calyn Key
Elias Kiameh
Colton Mccormick
Joshua Miller
Michael Mitchell
James Morrison
Raven Palmer
Christian Peery
Sebastian Petty
Joshua Phelps
Madeline Porter
Nicholas Potter
Michael Potts
Olivia Reagan
Christopher Reichle
Campbell Rolfe
Caitlyn Rollins
Kyley Rose
Peyton Smith
Callie Stubbs
Zachary Summers
Tythiana Turner
James Upton
Zachery Valle
Emily Wainner
Nicholas Wilkins
Nicholas Williamson
MASTER OF CYTOPATHOLOGY PRACTICE
Anne Mones
Gabriela Ortiz
Angelin Shanmugam
Lindsey Wynn
MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Emily Bennett
Ryann Bizette
Haleigh Black
Danielle Boscaccy
Tiana Bridges
MacKenzie Dew
Robin Edwards
Carly Fallin
Bailey Floyd
Hayes Franklin
Cheyenne Franklin
Emma Hilliard
Olivia Holmes
Marjorie Jamerson
Rachel Jeneff
Payton Johnston
Kristin Mather
Laura Mendez
Brianna Morgan
Elizabeth Morris-Cobb
Laura Morris
Kathryn Mullins
Danielle Parish
Jonathan Richardson
Rachel Ridenour
Alex Rome
Skylar Russell
Lindsey Satterlee
Allyson Smith
Caymen Starwalt
Kaitlin Steel
Katelyn Stewart
Hannah Tackett
Hunter Tockey
Virginia VanAusdall
Kathy Warlick
Summer Weldon
Sydney Young
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Morgan Bryson
Samantha Clanton
Lauryn Harrison
Audrey Pisahl
Lauren Scifres
Shcorey Shepard
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Juliette Akinwole
Andrew Beard
Emily Gentry
Debrael Ham
Andrew Hargis
Annette Henderson
Kelsey Long
Krishna Patel
Neil Patel
Ashley Simien
Narjodh Singh
Stephen Tung
Abigail White
CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Hana Egawa
Audrey Harper
Katherine Jeong
Sandy Tran
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PATHOLOGISTS’ ASSISTANT
Renee Adamec
Abbey Allen
Jasmine Becton
Sara Ginn
Andrew Huang
Hayden Thomas
Morgan Thomas
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Madison Abdoney
Sophia Barnett
Abby Bryant
Gretchen Bushman
Jillian Buterbaugh
Callie Canfield
Isabel Ciampa
Peyton Davis
Lauren Day
Lily Deinhart
Lillian Dennison
Mary Dyer
Holly Fussell
Taylor Gonzalez
Grace Goodacre
Riley Harris
Ashlyn Howell
Sara Hutchinson
Camryn Johnson
Kellyann Jorgensen
Abigail King
Herbert Lackey
Mackenzie Lanza
Suzanna Marlow
Sara Mashburn
Caroline McCarthy
Ashlyn Mcdaniel
Macie Meade
Grace Mennen
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY
Mohammed Almashamia
Leslie Anderson
Reva Bagi
Ansley Baine
Avery Baine
Chelsea Baker
Kendall Barton
Avery Berger
Lauren Biddle
Madison Bolling
Geraldine Bowman
Skyla Brannen
Riley Camera
Layla Cameron
Abigail Carey
Caroline Carpenter
Samantha Chamberlain
Lucy Clarke
Kennedy Click
Blythe Clippinger
Abigail Conway
Elisabeth Cornell
Caroline Cropp
Atara Cummings
Lily Daniel
Quincy DeLude
Jordan Domke
Laurika Du Plessis
Maggie Eidson
Sydney Eineker
Caroline Finch
Lidija Fletcher
Carley Fritts
Christin Garland
Sha’naha George
Rebecca Gilberg
Lauren Goodman
Amanda Gregory
Abigail Gronda
Annlyn Hamilton
Kaleigh Hellard
Jessica Herbert
Hayley Moffatt
Katelyn Nelson
Cassidy Nicol
Hannah Parkhill
Leah Putty
Abigail Reber
Megan Richburg
Emma Roeser
Ruth Rogers
— CLASS OF 2025 —
Abigail Hopkins
Morgan Irwin
Riley Johnson
Sidney Keck
Addison Keen
Anna Kimmes
Meredith Kiser
Bailey Lipman
Madison Livingston
Emma Lockrey
Mia Lynch
Erin Martin
Madeline McCage
Sarah McCraw
Keira McIntyre
Ella Medlin
Grace Meyer
Regan Meyers
Kaitlyn Monkemeyer
Whitney Moore
Mckenna Mumpower
Mya Mustafa
Alexa Nemec
Lindsey O’Connor
Charli Orsini
Leah Ownby
Erica Parker
Emma Pestorius
Caroline Peterson
Gwyneth Peterson
Katie Randolph
Emma Richards
Amelia Richardson
Olivia Rollins
Adley Rose
Grace Sherland
Claudia Sipling
Breia Smith
Sarah Smith
Savannah Sparks
Delaney Stone
Sally Stowe
Grace Sullivan
Payton Thompson
Madeline Thurman
Natalie Schaad
Ally Smith
Anna Street
Amelia Sullivan
Caylee Walker
Laurel Wood
Bethany Young
Raley Tolliver
Molly Trent
Macy Tucker
Kaitlin Walsh
Carolyn Weber
Isabella Welton
Ryann Youngberg
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Mallory Bloodworth
Sara Broughman
Alysia Dillard
Mykeal Eddins
Tajianna English
Jamelah Jones
Rianah Morshed
Brittanei Wells
DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY
Ashley Argo
Laura Bugg
Alayna Dimlich
Elizabeth Flores
Katherine Gutshall
Yi-Wen Hsieh
Megan Keyser
Rachael Kyker
Izabella Lewandowski
Lauren Mazeall
Colyar McCord
Riley Moody
Jessica Mooney
Maddelyn Poulter
Joshua Rudes
Megan Wade
DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Joshua Azbill
Haley Ball
Owen Bartholomew
Faith Blanchard-Ludanga
William Carter
Kathryn Chouinard
Julie Chumley
Taylor Clifft
Addison Conley
Jimmy Dankins
Delanie Davis
Sthefany Delgado
Ashley Dickinson
Rebekah Eberle
Conner Guerrant
Kalin Halbach
Sarah Hartsell
Mary Hawkins
Julia Jones
Matthew Kallaher
Allora Leonard
Nathan Lowery
Matthew Malagon
Alexandra Markesi
Victoria Martin
Logan Nelson
Nicole Nicholson
Nicholas Palopoli
Elizabeth Penn
Kelly Perkins
Catherine Petro
Brianna Pope
Nicholas Reynolds
Hannah Roaten
Kurt Robbins
Alexis Rooks
Tara Rosenwinkel
Leanna Salem
Connor Sheeks
Benjamin Smith
Nanci Sparkman
Gavin Steele
Carly Sternberg
Thomas Stevens
Katelyn Taylor
Sara Thompson
Tony Tran
Marlene Upchurch
McKenzi Vinson
MASTER OF CYTOPATHOLOGY PRACTICE
Chloe Balzer
Malik Barksdale
Leica Barnhart
Emily Madsen
Keren Muswere
Nicole Riha
Servola Turner
MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Regina Acuna
Grace Barron
Emily Bates
Sarah Block
Mackenzie Bracewell
Lindsey Breskow
Ashlyn Bulinski
Caroline Carmack
Anna Click
Meredith Dowden
Aliyah Hanks
Claire Herring
Jenna Hornsby
Allison Hyatt
Pinal Ishver
Olivia Knotts
Jenna McDaniel
MarQueshia McKinstry-Hughes
Akosua Odei
Georgia Ray
Modina Reid
McKenzie Roberts
Savanna Simpson
Kaitlyn Smith
Hallie Stepp
Cameron Volker
Caroline Wehner
Amberlee White
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Noah Reed
Grant Wilson
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Caisey Hale
Rachel Mathews
Shivani Patel
Jeffrey Winder
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Jordan Agee
Catherine Cofer
Margaret Coley
Bailey Creech
Kaitlyn Dunn
Hannah Elders
Riley Epperson
Carlee Flanagan
Elly Freese
Kelsey George
Audrianna Hamilton
Raegan Hare
Autumn Hubbard
Julia Karsten
Judith Kirkland
Neema Kurien
Megan Kurtz
Logan Lawrence
Jaelyn Lows
Mikayla Maranka
Phoebe Marker
Mary Matter
Alden McGinnis
Sima Mehdian
Kayla Moody
Hannah Neese
Nicholas Neverstitch
Kaitlyn Noreen
Elizabeth Norton
Jordan Pack
Alyssa Parker
Dannah Powers
Whitney Richardson
Kristina Riley
Carlene Rogers
Chloe Rose
Sadie Rosenke
Gracie Smith
Katelyn Strother
Audrey Theye
Kelly Vogler
Hannah Wallace
Alexis Williams
Evelyn Witte
Sydney Zurita
Rebekah Tripp, AuD: A Calling Beyond Career
By Aimee C. McMillin
When classmates in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Audiology and Speech Pathology program in Knoxville nicknamed Rebekah Tripp “Mom,” it was apropos.
For Dr. Tripp, who earned her Doctor of Audiology degree in 2013, the nickname reflected her status as a slightly older, nontraditional student – and the only one in her class of nine who was a married mom. Balancing a demanding program with motherhood, she recalls taking a test just four days after giving birth.
Today, her three sons are grown, and Dr. Tripp nurtures patients through Choice Audiology, her thriving private practice in Loudon, Tennessee. Since opening in 2018, Choice Audiology has grown, earning a 2025 Rocky Top Business Award as one of the fastest growing businesses owned or led by University of Tennessee alumni. But the path to Loudon was far from linear.
Raised in the small town of Trenton, Georgia, Dr. Tripp once thought she would be a doctor – until a high school teacher discouraged her, saying she wasn’t good enough at math. “So, I believed I couldn’t be a doctor,” she says. Instead of pursuing pre-med, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerome, and became a mother at 19.
While Jerome served in the U.S. Coast Guard and the family lived in Baltimore, Dr. Tripp began exploring college options. They eventually relocated to East Tennessee to be close to extended family, and she enrolled at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
“I didn’t set out to study audiology,” she says, “but I took a public speaking class that required completing a career inventory and giving a presentation on our match. My match was speech pathology. That planted the seed.”
Eight years later, Dr. Tripp graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, earned while nurturing her growing family.
During her undergraduate studies, audiology ultimately captured her interest, but it required additional education. In 2009, she entered the newly relocated program at UT Health Science Center’s Knoxville campus. She was a member of its first graduating class in 2013.
“It was a small program with high standards and excellent clinical training,” she says. “Every day in my own clinic, in fact, I recall the voice of one of my mentors, Dr. Nancy
Schay. She was meticulous about how things were done in clinic, and that attention to detail stayed with me.
“I am very conscientious about how I run my clinical appointments. I know that comes directly from her.”
At Choice Audiology, Dr. Tripp and her team provide comprehensive adult audiological services – from hearing tests to tinnitus evaluations to the complete spectrum of hearing aid testing, fitting, service, and support. Yet she notes that many patients don’t fully grasp the value of seeing a Doctor of Audiology, especially in an age of over-the-counter and online hearing aids.
“One of my biggest challenges as a medical professional isn’t as a clinician or diagnostician,” she says. “It’s helping people realize the benefit of what we do.”
Also, audiology training often doesn’t emphasize business management, pricing, or growth strategy – all needed in private practice. She’s not alone in navigating these challenges. As a member of the EntreAudiology Mastermind, led by Dawn Heiman, AuD, and Entheos Audiology Cooperative, which supports hearing health care around the globe through its nonprofit arm, Hearing the Call, Dr. Tripp finds resources, collaboration, and philanthropy. She also mentors current UT Health Science Center students in their externships.
Her patient-centered care philosophy is simple – it’s about improving lives, not selling products. One story reminds her why she does what she does. A patient with profound hearing loss resisted a cochlear implant evaluation, as recommended by Dr. Tripp. The patient’s husband had to attend every doctor’s visit and act as ears and interpreter. After more than three years of encouragement from Dr. Tripp, the patient finally agreed to the evaluation. She was an ideal candidate for the device.
“At her first post-op office visit, she arrived alone. She was talking and engaging with everyone,” Dr. Tripp says. “After her implant, her world reopened, and she was not so isolated.”
For Dr. Tripp, that’s the heart of her business: helping her patients reconnect with their lives. “Growing a business is good,” she says, “but it’s really about advocating for my patients and guiding them to a better quality of life.”
Introducing Amanda Armstrong, Regional Director of Development
Amanda Armstrong joined the UT Foundation staff in 2021 as a regional development director, supporting all the colleges on the Health Sciences campus, including as of earlier this year, the College of Health Professions.
Armstrong is a second-generation graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the parent of two adult children involved in the health sciences, including one who earned a clinical doctorate in Audiology from the College of Health Professions.
“The College of Health Professions is possibly the most unique college at UT Health Science Center,” Armstrong said. “Our long-standing degree programs prepare students for a wide range of health care careers at various entry levels. This college is critical to the realization of the campus vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.”
Funding priorities for the college include facilities and equipment, student scholarships, faculty support, research initiatives, and annual support. “From sponsoring a white coat for a student, sustaining student scholarships, providing opportunities for faculty- and student-led research, or making a gift on Giving Day, we depend on our alumni and community advocates to sustain us,” she said. “All gifts are essential and enable us to support the college’s mission to advance well-being through academics, research, and care.”
If you have questions about giving, Armstrong can be reached at 865.335.8428 or aarmst36@uthsc.edu.
Why Make an Annual Gift to UT Health Science Center?
Donating to UT Health Science Center every year helps us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, community outreach initiatives, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone!
Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges, and our programs. Your gift in any
or
Thank You for Your Membership in the 1911 Society
UT Health Science Center’s 1911 Society recognizes philanthropic support, which is critical to our mission of educating students, conducting innovative research, and improving health outcomes.
Named for the year the Health Science Center was founded, the 1911 Society celebrates the generosity of our community. Membership in the 1911 Society is granted across multiple levels: Annual Giving Partners, who donate $100 or more in any given fiscal year; Sustaining
We are grateful to the following donors for their gifts through June 30, 2025.
ANNUAL GIVING PARTNERS
Jasmine T. Agnew
Donald F. and Tiffany D. Ahlberg
Cynthia S. Allin and Mark E. Brown
Stephen E. and Michelle Alway
Amanda H. and David Armstrong
Sherry D. Ashe
Barbara Dale Baldwin
Jennifer A. Barnett
David F. and Cheryl M. Barr
Ian and Lydia Barry
Janice E. Beard
Julie A. and George Beeler
Mary Sue Bennett
Marsha McKinley and Carl M. Bennett
Carol Sue Bloomquist
Ashley N. and David C. Bradford
Phyllis S. and Fred S. Buchanan, Jr.
Karen J. Bunn and Rodney D. Bunn
Loretta L. Bunn
William H. and Sybil A. Byrd
Kimberly G. and Andrew B. Carter
Chermale K. Casem
Devin M. Casenhiser and Christina Heal
Tamika D. Catchings
Carmen Camille Coleman
F. Donald Coleman
Barbara H. and Michael J. Connolly
Sandra E. and Robert M. Counce
Jane Scott Cox
Marilyn Cox
Johnny R. and Andrea R. Crisler
Sheila L. Criswell
Judith G. Davis
Wendie S. and Stephen B. Deloach
Denise P. Descouzis
Barbara DuBray-Benstein
Patricia W. and Dennis C. Earl
Partners, who give annually at any amount for five or more consecutive years; and Lifetime Partners, who make cumulative commitments of $25,000 or more during their lifetime.
The Office of Advancement wishes to thank all donors for their commitment to the College of Health Professions and to the university.
For details go to giving.uthsc.edu/1911. To make a gift, please visit giving.uthsc.edu/give or call 901.448.5516.
Norman D. and Deborah K. Estep
Jerry J. and Margaret H. Faerber
Gail P. and C. Thomas Fennimore
Anthony and Kathy Ferrara
Santoshia D. Fitchpatrick
Laura A. Franklin
William R. Frey
Nan M. and Mark S. Gaylord
Jeff H. Gill
Rosario L. Giulian
Deborah B. and Ted M. Gleason
Barbara Gray
Intissar A. Greene
Nina Q. and Lenard A. Grice
Jiali Gu
Cheryl D. Gunter and Paul A. Rabe
Osman Gurel Gursakal
Ashley Harkrider
Robert D. Hatfield
Jennifer and Paul Hausladen
Ashlyn Heard
Hearing Associates of South Carolina
Carrie D. Hilliard
Mary and Steve Hoelscher
Jill D. Hoover
Jonathan M. Hoover
M. James and Joyce A. Howard
Virginia and Kenneth Hughes
Elizabeth and Craig Humphrey
Anna and Jared Iroff-Bailey
Beth Johnson
Janet H. and Alan L. Jones
Richard J. and Christine L. Kasser
Abigail Boswell King
Michael W. and Michelle L. King
Nancy L. and Victor D. King
Faith N. Kiphut
Nikki J. Ray
Knoxville Downtown Sertoma Club
Mary Archer and Kazunari Koike
Tamara L. Lambdin
Jewell B. and George M. Lee
Pamela and Kenneth Lewis-Kipkulei
Sheila R. Littleton
Steve and Carolyn Luper
Jeff and Beth Anne Maaske
Bradley J. and Jillian H. McCarthy
Jason M. Martin
Lynda and Ross McAllister, Jr.
Brent J. McCay
Susan L. McConnell
Medpace, Inc.
Myra M. Meekins
Curtis P. Meier
Todd and Leah Miller
Charles E. and Leanne F. Morgan
Bruna Mussoi
Angie Norwood
Ariel and Jason O’Brien
David L. Ortiz
Eun Jin Paek and Hyun Gon Moon
PathGroup
Andie K. Poland
Robert Poland
JoEtta Powell
Monya F. Pryor
Betty and Randy Rains
Kevin J. Reilly and Jill L. Passano
Kevin and Jaimie Reneau
Rebecca and Jeremy Reynolds
Lara Tarlan Reynolds
Cynthia M. and James C. Richburg
Charles A. Robbins, Jr.
Elaine Perry Robinson
Tabitha K. and Ned M. Rossini
David S. Rustom
Cynthia F. and Michael K. Savage
Renee and Daniel R. Sechrist
James C. and Yvonne B. Sensenig
Barbara B. and Harry Shadden
Marcia Y. and Darren Sharp
Doris H. and Joseph R. Shelton
John J. and Carol C. Sheridan
Sidekick
Nicole C. and John R. Simmons
Robert L. and Linda J. Sloan
Joseph C. Smiddy
Leigh Anne Smith
Neal R. and Sheri M. Smith
Beverly C. and David H. Stacey III
Mayra Star
James D. and Coleen Stevens
Randall and Katrina Stevens
Cheryl K. and William R. Stewart, Jr.
Carolyn Sweeney-Fisher and Michael J. Fisher
Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Leigh Chesney Barnes
Mr. Carl M. and Mrs. Marsha McKinley Bennett
Ms. Linda A. Caldwell
Estate of Sharon Diane Carney
Estate of Dr. Brenta G. Davis
Lori A. Thomas
Jane Diddle Thompson
Margrey N. and William R. Thompson
Rebecca N. Tiller
Brendan Tuohy
Derek Walker
M. Todd and Sara E. Watson
Allison and Matthew Wegman
Orli Weisser-Pike and Stephen J. Pike
West Cancer Center, PLLC
Jeromey and Amber White
Billie Whitney
Karen Wild
Wendy L. and Jerry L. Williams, Jr.
Jenny and Chris Withem
Travis E. and Elizabeth O. Woody
Kelly R. Yeager and Mark A. Turner
Twanna Young-Moore
Anne H. and Michael S. Zachry
Paula and Jerel Zarestky
LIFETIME
PARTNERS
Jeffrey and Sally Jo Baerman
Henry Curtis and Leigh Chesney Barnes
Carl M. and Marsha McKinley Bennett
Rodney D. and Karen J. Bunn
Linda A. Caldwell
Tamika D. Catchings
Patricia A. and Kenneth W. Christenberry, Jr.
Barbara H. and Michael J. Connolly
Denise P. Descouzis
Jesse and Cristin Doty
Barbara Lynn DuBray-Benstein
Jerry J. and Margaret H. Faerber
William R. Frey
Judy W. Griffin
Cheryl D. Gunter and Paul A. Rabe
Bill and Peg Helms
Michael W. and Michelle L. King
Knoxville Downtown Sertoma Club
Knoxville Scottish Rite Foundation
James Douglas Lewis
Memphis Health Information Management Association
Orgill, Inc.
PathGroup
Ray M. and Linda H. Patterson
Regal Foundation
Dr. Rebecca and Mr. Jeremy Reynolds
Sidekick
Sara J. Thelin
Anne H. and Michael S. Zachry
Dr. Denise P. Descouzis
Dr. Barbara Lynn DuBray-Benstein
Dr. William R. Frey
Miss Judy W. Griffin
Mrs. Denise F. Harvey
Estate of Judy Duane Haston
Estate of Mary L. Luper
Estate of Charles S. and Lucille H. Moon
Estate of Raymond Skinner
Estate of Dr. Tyler Young
Be a Legacy Society Member
The Legacy Society recognizes those who have remembered the UT Health Science Center in their estate plans and notified us of their intentions. This special group of individuals is passionate about this institution and our mission of education, health care, research, and public service — and our vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.
Charitable support strengthens our efforts.
We are honored to partner with our dedicated members of our community who support the university by funding scholarships, programs that enhance education, and vital research to improve health.
Soon, a new display in the historic Mooney Building will honor our Legacy Society members for their commitments and enduring impact on our mission. Every student, faculty and staff member, and visitor will have the opportunity to celebrate those who have chosen to partner with us in their estate planning.
Planned gifts provide flexibility for your needs.
Planning now for the distribution of your assets relieves your family and friends from the burden of these tough decisions and ensures your wishes are fulfilled.
To explore options for planned gifts and ensure you are included in this special tribute, contact Bethany Goolsby in the Office of Advancement at 901.448.8212 or bgoolsby@uthsc.edu.
