University of Tennessee Health Science Center receives $5 million for College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center has received a $5 million gift from the First Horizon Foundation in support of private fundraising efforts for the new College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building. The investment is the lead gift of the project’s $50 million philanthropic campaign. The Tennessee General Assembly has invested $311 million to the project, as well. The College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building is expected to start construction by the end of 2026, with a projected full occupancy date of 2030.

According to an article on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s website, Bryan Jordan, who serves as the chairman of the board, president, and CEO of First Horizon Corporation, was quoted as saying of the investment, “UT Health Sciences is one of Tennessee’s most important assets and a leading engine for developing our state’s healthcare workforce. The First Horizon Foundation is proud to play a part in bringing the vision of UT Health Sciences to life, preparing the next generation of physicians and health care professionals, and contributing to the health, economic vitality and prosperity of Memphis, the Mid-South and the state of Tennessee.”

The College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building will span more than 300,000 square feet and be seven stories tall. It will serve as the home to the largest of the university’s colleges and will support cross-disciplinary training, advanced technology, research, and collaborative learning. The new building will enhance the university’s ability to prepare and train the next generation of physicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals.

Michael Hocker, MD, the executive dean of the College of Medicine, said, “During its first five years, the facility is expected to train 1,450 new physicians and physician assistants, helping address projected provider shortages across the state. As the academic cornerstone for the College of Medicine, this building will serve as the foundational training ground for all medical students. Regardless of where they ultimately complete their education in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville or Memphis, the fundamental building blocks of their medical education will begin in Memphis, making this facility imperative to UT Health Sciences’ statewide educational delivery model and its mission to prepare the next generation of physicians for Tennessee.”

Peter Buckley, MD, who serves as the chancellor of UT Health Sciences, shared his gratitude for First Horizon Foundation. He said, “First Horizon’s leadership in this project is a powerful vote of confidence in the future of healthcare in our state. As the state’s academic health institution, UT Health Sciences educates the healthcare professionals who serve communities across Tennessee. This new home for the College of Medicine will enable us to train even more providers in an innovative and state-of-the-art environment. We are grateful to the First Horizon Foundation for helping launch this vital initiative and for its longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of our state. We are grateful to First Horizon Foundation for its leadership in this transformative effort for not only UT Health Sciences but for the health and healthcare of all Tennesseans. This investment helps catalyze a project that will strengthen healthcare education, expand our workforce pipeline and improve access to care across the state for generations to come.”

For more information about the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, visit the school’s website.