About UTHSC

Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.

The mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to transform lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research/scholarship, clinical care, and public service.

More than 3,100 students in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville

More than 1,416 residents and fellows

Over $132 million in grant and contract awards in FY2022

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UTHSC offers four undergraduate and more than 30 graduate or professional degrees, and has more than 50 endowed professorships, including 19 Chairs of Excellence.

Six Colleges

Memphis Brag Points

According to Best Places, Memphis’ cost of living is 22.5% lower than the U.S. average
Conde Nast Traveler named Memphis one of the 23 Best Places to Go in 2023
Memphis was ranked in Bungalow’s list of The 10 most affordable cities in the US
Money Inc. ranked Memphis #9 on its list of 20 Cities with the Cheapest Rent in the U.S.

As the statewide, public, academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center trains the next generation of health care providers for Tennessee, cares for the people from one end of the state to the other, and researches the cures for the diseases that most affect all who call Tennessee home.

In 1911, the University of Tennessee first launched its Memphis campus, dedicating it solely to health science education and research. Seed programs in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy quickly flourished, and within a few short years, new programs were initiated in health professions, graduate health sciences and nursing. Each of those programs grew to become a college in its own right.

In 1963, the UT Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville, based at the UT Medical Center, became part of the UT Health Science Center. In 1974, the UT College of Medicine in Chattanooga, based at Erlanger Health System, joined the UTHSC system.

In 2014, Saint Thomas Health in Nashville began collaborating with UTHSC to create a Nashville campus.

Students learning in a clinical setting

Education

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center campus six colleges – Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.

Core Memphis Teaching Hospitals

Statewide

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville
Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville
West Tennessee Healthcare – Jackson Madison County General Hospital, Jackson

Researcher explaining to a crowd with power point presentation

Research

The Health Science Center’s six colleges and four campuses pursue basic science, translational and clinical research. UTHSC investigators are supported by both government and private funding sources.

Each fiscal year, UTHSC generates more than $300 million in sponsored programs, which includes grants and contracts to support its research, education and training, and service missions. Extramural research grants and contracts have grown 50% over the past five years, reaching a record in F22 that exceeded $132 million in annual awards.

Dental clinic doctors working on a patient

Clinical Care

Clinically, UTHSC faculty practice groups contribute more than $300 million annually to the statewide mission. These practice groups serve as the core faculty for all of our partner teaching hospitals.

Health Hub employee helping the public

Public Service

UTHSC holds a yearly Campus Food Drive and United Way Campaign to help others and strengthen our community.

Health Career Programs (HCP) prepares the next generation of individuals to become culturally competent and relevant healthcare professionals and educators.

The Clinica Esperanza is a primary care clinic run by UTHSC College of Medicine students, residents, and faculty that offers free services to underserved, uninsured Latino adults.

The Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center is a student-run pro bono clinic founded to serve the underinsured or uninsured children of the Mid-South from birth to 18 years.