Community Service

One could view the university’s COVID-19 response as the ultimate act of community service. However, along with its pandemic response, UTHSC has supported the community in many ways over the last year. While large-scale community events were not possible, smaller efforts and virtual events allowed the university to meet its mission to serve.

Number of service hours UTHSC volunteered during calendar year 2020

Amount raised during the UTHSC 2020 Campus Food Drive. All proceeds benefited the Campus Cupboard that provides nutritious food and food preparation education to members of the UTHSC community, who may find it difficult to access balanced meals for themselves and their families.

The College of Medicine Office of Community Health Engagement launched the Frayser Community Garden, located at The Links at Davy Crockett Golf Course in the Frayser community in Shelby County. The university, government, and community effort aims to provide residents with access to locally grown and nutritional foods to support healthy physical, mental, and nutritional lifestyles.

Donations raised by the campus community for the UTHSC Relative Caregiver Program for its annual Winter Holiday Giveaway for the children and teens who are part of the program. The Relative Caregiver program supports youth who are being raised by relatives because their parents are unable to do so.

UTHSC joined more than a dozen other community partners to sponsor The Unity Walk Against Gun Violence to bring awareness to the alarming rate of crime, especially gun crimes, in the Memphis community.

Amount raised by students and faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy for the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center through its fourth-annual Art Show and Auction held virtually in October. The center is the only student-run, pro bono, pediatric occupational therapy clinic in the Mid-South.

Raised by The Women’s Resource Group at UTHSC for Dress for Success Memphis through its Virtual Power Walk in July.

The UTHSC College of Pharmacy chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) made face coverings to help underserved communities in Tennessee during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of Student Affairs and Community Engagement also partnered with the Department of Occupational Therapy Project PrOTect Mask Makers to meet a challenge of providing 1,000 masks to local health care providers and volunteers.

Number of students enrolled in the certificate in the Social Determinants of Health program, part of UTHSC’s Quality Enhancement Plan - Community Engaged Care.