News and Events

Becker Family Donates $178K to UTGSM

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) recently received a generous donation from the estate of Patricia Becker, a former resident of Knoxville who passed away on March 14, 2022. Patricia Becker’s nephew, Michael Becker, informed the UTGSM that his aunt had chosen to leave a portion of her estate to the UTGSM for research purposes. The gift amount totaled $178,087.91, and her heirs, Michael Becker, Janet Becker Hardin, and Laura Miller, requested that at least 50% of the gift be used to support the Women in Science initiative, with the remainder supporting the Physical Activity and Metabolism Laboratory (PAM) at the UTGSM. Read more

Patrick O. McConville, MD Named Chair of Anesthesiology

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) has announced Patrick O. McConville, MD, Associate Professor, as the new Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology effective April 1, 2023. Dr. McConville had previously been named Interim Chair of the department on October 17, 2022. Read more

UTGSM Celebrates Match Day 2023

Seven Knoxville designated University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine fourth-year medical students gathered with members of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) Dean's staff on March 17, 2023, to celebrate "Match Day." This year the students open their "Match Day" letters at exactly 12:00 pm EST while celebrating with family and friends at Maple Hall. 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

K. Paige Johnson, MD Wins Golden Apple Award for Overall Outstanding Clerkship Director

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has announced that K. Paige Johnson, MD, has been named the winner of the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Overall Outstanding Clerkship Director at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM). Dr. Johnson was selected for this honor by the students, which makes this recognition even more special. Read more

UTGSM Alum Honored by National Football League

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) alumni, Dr. Valerie Sams, was honored at a pre-Super Bowl event for her role in helping to save Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Dr. Sams, who completed her residency in General Surgery at UTGSM from 2008 to 2013, is currently serving as a trauma surgeon in the U.S. Air Force and is also the Director of the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) program at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Read more

University Family Physicians Clinic Awarded Recognition by the NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Program

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine is proud to announce its University Family Physicians (UFP) Clinic has been awarded recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home Program. NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations.Read more

K. Paige Johnson, MD Named Interim Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education at UTGSM

K. Paige Johnson, MD, has been named the Interim Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) effective January 1, 2023. Dr. Johnson succeeds William P. Metheny, PhD, who joined the UTGSM in 2007 and will be retiring effective December 31, 2022, after a 37-year career in medical education. Dr. Metheny led both graduate and undergraduate medical education for our campus, thus Dr. Johnson enters a newly created position that emphasizes the importance of medical students within our education mission. Read more

Tina M. Dudney, MD Named Interim Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical and Dental Education & Designated Institutional Official at UTGSM

Tina M. Dudney, MD, has been named the Interim Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical and Dental Education and Designated Institutional Official (DIO) of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) effective January 1, 2023. Dr. Dudney succeeds William P. Metheny, PhD, who is retiring after a 37-year career in medical education. Dr. Metheny joined the UTGSM in 2007 after holding multiple positions at Brown University in Providence RI and the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Read more

Stuart E. Van Meter, MD Named Interim Chair of Pathology

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine has named Stuart E. Van Meter, MD as Interim Chair of the Department of Pathology effective November 1, 2022. Dr. Van Meter will succeed Dr. Lisa Duncan, who has served as Chair since 2011.Read more

UTGSM Completes Second 'Advancing Access to Careers in Medicine Scholars Program'

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine completed its second Advancing Access to Careers in Medicine Scholars Program (AACMSP) this summer. The program, led by Deidra Mountain, PhD, Director of the Undergraduate Research Experience, is designed to improve students' access to careers in medicine and/or translational sciences by exposing them to research being conducted at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Read more

Through Dr. I. Reid Collmann's Legacy Scholarship, Medical Students Participate in GSM Research Projects

Medical students participated in research projects at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine through the I. Reid Collmann, M.D. Medical Student Education Fund which gives students an opportunity similar to that of former Dean Collmann's own student research experience. Dr. Collmann believed that hands-on exposure to research and its impact on patient care help to build a solid foundation for careers in medicine. Read more

Patrick O. McConville, MD Named Interim Chair of Anesthesiology

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine has named Patrick O. McConville, MD, Associate Professor, as Interim Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology effective October 17, 2022. Read more

Researchers From the UT Graduate School of Medicine Win Awards at the International Symposium on Amyloidosis

The Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics research program at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) led by Jonathan Wall, PhD, University Distinguished Professor and Assistant Dean of Research recently presented twelve abstracts of original research (five oral presentations and seven posters) at the 18th International Symposium on Amyloidosis (ISA) in Heidelberg, Germany. This year's symposium, which is held every two years, was the largest ever with over 1,100 attendees from around the world. The GSM research team received accolades at the symposium with their first-in-human studies of AT-01, a novel radioactive peptide for detecting diverse types of amyloidosis using PET/CT imaging. Read more

UTGSM Announced New Interim Dean  

UT Graduate School of Medicine would like to thank Dr. Paul Hauptman for all his contributions to the UTGSM as he looks forward to becoming the Dean at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer of Renown Health this Fall. With his departure, Robert M. Craft, MD has been selected as the fifth Dean (interim) of the UTGSM beginning on October 3, 2022. He will also serve as Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Read more

2022 GSM Faculty Honored for Excellence  

Each year, faculty are recognized for their extraordinary efforts in education and discovery. The 19th annual University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Faculty Awards were presented by Dr. Paul J. Hauptman, Dean. Read more

UTGSM Employees Recognized for Excellence

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine honored employees with the 16th Annual Employee Excellence Awards program. Nominated by peers and supervisors, Excellence Award winners are recognized in four areas for their willingness to go beyond the scope of their jobs by providing: outstanding job performance, leadership, courtesy and customer service, and community service. This year's winners are Billie Cain (Performance), James "Steve" Foster (Leadership), Kristi Gregg (Courtesy and Customer Service) and Tina Richey (Community Service). Read more

UTGSM Launches a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship in 2022

The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) in conjunction with the University of Tennessee Medical Center, University Palliative Care, University of Tennessee Home Care and Hospice, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital now offers a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. Read more

UTGSM Announces Two New Positions, an Ombuds and a Physician Leader in Diversity and Inclusion

The Graduate School of Medicine is pleased to announce two new positions, an Ombuds and a Physician Leader in Diversity and Inclusion, starting on June 1, 2022. Dr. Joan Rentsch from the University of Tennessee will be the new Ombuds and Dr. Kenyon M. Railey will be the new part-time Physician Leader in Diversity and Inclusion while maintaining his status as an Associate Professor at the Duke University School of Medicine. Read more

UTGSM Announces the Stephen Y. Coleman Endowed Fellowship in Medical Oncology and the Dale C. Wortham MD Endowed Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases

The Stephen Y. Coleman Endowed Fellowship in Medical Oncology and the Dale C. Wortham MD Endowed Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine have been announced by Paul Hauptman, Dean of the UTGSM. Read more

Dr. Wesley White Named Chair of Urology

Dr. White takes over as Chair after assuming the interim role in July 2019 following the untimely death of the inaugural Chair, Dr. W. Bedford Waters. Read more

2021-2022 Academic Leadership Academy Participants Annnounced

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine offers CME-certified programs to its faculty members to foster their development into academic leaders in medicine. Anthony Wilson, MD, Chair of Family Medicine, has been instrumental in launching both programs: the Academic Leadership Academy, which is co-chaired by Paul Hauptman, MD, Dean, and Eric Carlson, DMD, MD, Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; and the Faculty Development Seminar Series. Read more