News and Events

Dean Robert M. Craft, MD, to Retire After More Than Three Decades of Service

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville) will soon bid farewell to its fifth dean, Robert M. Craft, MD, who has served the institution for more than 30 years. Dr. Craft announced that he will retire on December 31, 2025.Read more

UTHSC College of Medicine, Knoxville Faculty and Residents Shine at CHEST 2025

Faculty and residents from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville) had an impressive showing at the CHEST 2025 Conference, held October 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. Hosted by the American College of Chest Physicians, CHEST is one of the premier international meetings in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, celebrating 90 years of advancing innovation and excellence in the field.Read more

Frank G. Gress, MD, Named Chair of the Department of Medicine

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville) has named Frank G. Gress, MD as Chair of the Department of Medicine, effective January 5, 2026. Dr. Gress succeeds Rajiv Dhand, MD, who has led the department since 2012.Read more

Pan-Amyloid Tracers Poised to Transform Cardiac Amyloidosis Imaging

New pan-amyloid tracers could soon transform cardiac imaging by enabling detection of all amyloid types, not just ATTR. At ASNC2025, Jonathan S. Wall, PhD, Distinguished Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville presented promising results for two investigational agents; PET/CT tracer ¹²⁴I-evuzamitide and SPECT tracer ^99mTc-p5+14 (AT-05), both built on a peptide his team developed nearly 20 years ago.Read more

UTGSM Rebrands as UTHSC College of Medicine, Knoxville

On October 1, 2025, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) officially rebranded as the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville). This milestone reflects the growth of medical education and research in Knoxville while strengthening alignment with the statewide University of Tennessee Health Science Center.Read more

Celebrating Excellence: 2025 Welcome Dinner and Faculty Awards Mark a Milestone for UTGSM

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) hosted its 2025 Welcome Dinner and Faculty Awards on June 21 at Bridgewater Place in Knoxville. As in years past, the event brought together new residents, fellows, and faculty to honor achievements in education, research, and service. But this year's celebration also marked a turning point, serving as the final faculty awards program under the UTGSM name.Read more

Office of Research Support Welcomes Three New Team Members

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) Office of Research Support is pleased to welcome three new professionals who bring unique expertise and fresh perspectives to our growing research team. Manasa Tulasi Ganesuni, MS, joins as our new Quality Assurance and Regulatory Specialist, Sima Namin, PhD, joins as our new Health Disparities Research Specialist, and Madeline "Maddy" Mikes, MPH, joins as our new Oncology Research Coordinator.Read more

SNMMI Mars Shot Research Fund Awards Grant to Expand Theranostics Access in Appalachia

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is excited to share that Dustin R. Osborne, PhD, Professor in the Department of Radiology and director of the Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Research Program and James Crowley, MS, CNMT, imaging services manager, Carilion Clinic have been awarded a $100,000 grant from the 2025 Mars Shot Research Fund by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). Their project titled Expanding Access to Theranostics in Rural Appalachia: A Community-Based Educational Initiative, was selected as part of the Mars Shot Fund's mission to support bold, forward-looking innovations in nuclear medicine.Read more

2025 UTGSM Employees Recognized for Excellence

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine honored four exceptional team members during the 19th Annual Employee Excellence Awards. Nominated by their colleagues and supervisors, this year’s recipients were celebrated for their outstanding achievements in job performance, leadership, courtesy and customer service, and community service. The 2025 honorees are Jennifer Parris-Horner (Performance), Whitney Bean (Leadership), Adam Cogburn (Courtesy and Customer Service), and Shannon Brown (Community Service).Read more

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Collaborates on $2M Grant to Expand Rural Healthcare Career Pathways

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is proud to serve as a key academic partner in a new $2 million grant-funded initiative to expand healthcare career opportunities for students in rural Tennessee.Read more

Amanda Wilson, MBA Named UTHSC Nominee for the 2025 UT President's Awards

Amanda Wilson, MBA, Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration for the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) has been named a nominee for the prestigious 2025 UT President's Awards, the highest honor a University of Tennessee employee can receive. Wilson was selected as the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's (UTHSC) nominee in the Excel in All We Do category, which recognizes individuals whose unwavering pursuit of excellence drives transformative results across their institution. Wilson's nomination marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first-ever nominee from the UTGSM to be recognized at the UT System level for this prestigious award.Read more

Jack E. Gotcher, DMD, PhD, Named Interim Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) has named Jack E. Gotcher, DMD, PhD, Professor and Program Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency, as Interim Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, effective May 1st. As he steps into this new leadership role, Dr. Gotcher will transition the Program Director role to Michael Winstead, DMD, MD.Read more

UTGSM Launches New Neurology Residency Program in 2025

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is proud to announce the launch of its new Neurology Residency Program in 2025. Housed within the Department of Medicine, the largest department at UTGSM, this four-year categorical program is designed to train the next generation of general neurologists to serve patients with empathy, clinical excellence, and a deep commitment to health equity.Read more

UTGSM Celebrates Match Day 2025

The energy was palpable at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Knoxville on March 21, 2025. Amid nervous laughter and heartfelt embraces, our University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine fourth-year medical students gathered with their loved ones for one of medicine's most treasured traditions - Match Day. As the clock struck noon, these soon-to-be physicians, who had spent countless hours in our halls and hospitals honing their skills, opened the letters that would launch the next chapter of their medical careers.Read more

UME Department Expands to Enhance Student Support and Clinical Education

The Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) department at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) continues to grow, expanding its support for medical students. One new position added last year, the Clinical Education Coordinator, plays a vital role in ensuring seamless clinical education experiences for allied health and advanced practice provider students. Casey Heck has served in this role since September 2024, overseeing APP rotations in a coordinated effort with UHS to improve experiences of our midlevel provider students. She collaborates with affiliated institutions, manages student onboarding, and acts as the key liaison between students, preceptors, and faculty. Her efforts help maintain strong partnerships and ensure students receive high-quality training opportunities.Read more

G. Anthony Wilson, MD, Named Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs at University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is pleased to announce the appointment of G. Anthony Wilson, MD, FAAFP, as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs, effective March 1, 2025. Dr. Wilson succeeds Rajiv Dhand, MD, who has served in this role since its inception in 2015. Read more

UTGSM Faculty Recognized at the 2024 UTRF MCO Innovation Awards Ceremony

The 2024 University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) Multi-Campus Office Innovation Awards Ceremony, held on November 25 in Knoxville, TN, celebrated the groundbreaking achievements of researchers across the UT system. The event honored faculty, staff, and students whose innovative contributions are driving progress in technology, science, and entrepreneurship. Read more

Dr. Carlson Inducted into the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators

On September 27, 2024, Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, EdM, FACS, chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was among 76 esteemed surgeon educators to be inducted in the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators of the American College of Surgeons during a program event in Chicago. Read more

Children's Hospital and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville Announce Pediatric Residency Program

East Tennessee Children's Hospital (ETCH) and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) in Knoxville are collaborating to launch a pediatric residency program. This is the first pediatric graduate medical education (GME) program between the two organizations.Read more

Mitchell H. Goldman, MD, FACS Receives Active Learning Teaching Award for Innovative Classroom Strategies

Mitchell H. Goldman, MD, FACS, Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM), was honored with the Active Learning Teaching Award for his exceptional implementation of active learning strategies. Read more

UTGSM to Launch an Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Fellowship

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is proud to announce the initiation of the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Fellowship, an intensive one-year program aimed at advancing the skills of graduates from accredited general surgery residencies in the realm of complex hernia management and abdominal wall reconstruction. Under the mentorship of esteemed faculty members, the fellowship offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing a wide array of specialized techniques and procedures. From recurrent hernias to mesh complications, and from chronic wounds to hernia defects, fellows will be equipped with the expertise to address a spectrum of complex abdominal wall pathologies. Read more

Statewide Biomedical and Clinical Research Collaborative Awards Granted

Researchers from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine-Knoxville; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Office of Research understand the challenges affecting the health and wellness of Tennesseans. Read more

Celebrating Excellence: UTGSM's 2024 Welcome Dinner and Faculty Awards

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) recently hosted its 2024 Welcome Dinner and Faculty Awards, a cherished tradition that celebrates excellence and achievement in medical education, research, and service. The event, held on June 22, 2024, at the Bridgewater Place in Knoxville, TN, was a momentous occasion, bringing together new residents, fellows, and esteemed faculty members to honor their unwavering commitment to advancing medical education and research. Read more

2024 UTGSM Employees Recognized for Excellence

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine celebrated the exceptional achievements of its employees with the 18th Annual Employee Excellence Awards program. Nominations were solicited from colleagues and supervisors, acknowledging employees' remarkable contributions in four distinct categories: outstanding job performance, leadership, courtesy and customer service, and community service. This year's winners are Patty Hamilton (Performance), Melinda Klar (Leadership), Kristi Roe (Courtesy and Customer Service) and Abagail Pujol (Community Service). Read more

University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and The University of Tennessee Medical Center Pioneer Revolutionary Radionuclide Therapies in Cancer Treatment

In a groundbreaking stride toward advancing cancer treatment, the Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program (MITRP) at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) and The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) are at the forefront of pioneering Radionuclide Therapies. Under the guidance of Dr. Dustin Osborne, PhD, DABSNM, Professor, and Director of the MITRP, Dr. Yitong Fu, MD, Nuclear Medicine Section Chief, and Brett Hines, RT(R), CNMT, Manager of Nuclear Medicine, these novel therapies represent a transformative approach in the fight against cancer.Read more

UTGSM Celebrates Match Day 2024

On March 15, 2024, twelve Knoxville designated University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine fourth-year medical students gathered with eager anticipation to partake in the time-honored tradition of "Match Day." Held at Maple Hall in downtown Knoxville, this year's students opened their "Match Day" letters at exactly 12:00 PM EST while celebrating with friends and family. Issued by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), these letters revealed the specialty programs and locations where each student will begin their residency training after graduation from medical school.Read more

The Role of the Institutional Review Board at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

Research involving human subjects is a cornerstone of scientific advancement, but it must be conducted ethically and with the utmost respect for the rights and welfare of participants. At the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM), oversight is provided by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), an integral part of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (UTHSC) research infrastructure. Comprised of representatives from UTGSM, UT Medical Center, and the community, the IRB ensures compliance with federal regulations and ethical standards, safeguarding the welfare of participants.Read more

Janet Purkey, MD Named a 2024 Remarkable Women Finalist

Dr. Janet Purkey, an Associate Professor and Clerkship Director for Internal Medicine at UTGSM, has been named a 2024 Remarkable Women Finalist, a testament to her extraordinary dedication and contributions. Beyond her role in medicine, Dr. Purkey is the co-founder of the East Knox Free Medical Clinic, where she tirelessly serves those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.Read more

Celebrating a Legacy of Knowledge and Compassion: The Preston Medical Library

The Preston Medical Library, nestled within the heart of the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), commemorates its enduring history that spans back to 1966. This year will mark a decade since its 2014 relocation to a 10,500 square foot area in the hospital's main lobby. As it celebrates its ten-year relocation anniversary, the library continues its unwavering service to the medical community and the public. It stands as a beacon of knowledge, offering a wealth of resources, innovative services, and compassionate support. Read more