University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Working together to transform lives and build healthy communities.

The mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans and the global community by fostering integrated, collaborative, and inclusive education, research, scientific discovery, clinical care, and public service.

More than 3,000 students in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville

More than 1,300 residents and fellows training in 87 ACGME programs

Contributes $4 billion to the Tennessee economy

In FY 2021, UTHSC faculty received over $100 million in external funding for research.

UTHSC values excellence, caring, respect, health equity, integrity, diversity and knowledge.

As the flagship statewide, public, academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care and public service. Employing more than 6,000 people on its faculty, staff and not-for-profit corporation faculty practice groups, UTHSC contributes more than $4 billion to the economy of Tennessee.

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.

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. 

Education

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

Research

The Health Science Center’s six colleges pursue basic science and clinical research with an emphasis on translational research. UTHSC investigators are supported by both government grants and private funding.

Each fiscal year, UTHSC generated more than $300 million in sponsored programs, all source nonclinical grants and contracts.

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.