The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Medicine forms partnerships with Rhodes College and University of Memphis

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center's College of Medicine has entered into partnerships with Rhodes College and University of Memphis. The partnerships guarantee that students from each institution will be granted an interview at the College of Medicine, provided that they meet benchmarks and apply via the American Medical College Application Service.

In an article on The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s website, G. Nicholas Verne, MD, who serves as the interim executive dean and vice chancellor of Clinical Affairs for the College of Medicine, spoke highly of the new partnerships, saying, “Creating innovative partnerships with local institutions like Rhodes College and the University of Memphis to enhance access to medical education is a crucial step. These collaborations reinforce our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in health care. Making medical education more accessible not only addresses workforce shortages but also ensures a more representative and well-equipped health care system to meet the needs of our communities.”

Jennifer Collins, JD, who is the president of Rhodes College, was also quoted in the article, and discussed the ways in which the partnership will benefit everyone involved, saying, “Rhodes has long been a top producer of matriculating students to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine each year, and this formalized partnership stands as a guarantee that this legacy will endure. Retaining quality Rhodes alumni benefits both institutions and the city of Memphis, with a potential ripple effect for the city’s growth, as many students choose to remain in Memphis for residency and practice. Rhodes students have acceptance rates into medical school that are almost double the national average. This partnership will further add to our tradition of outstanding success in medical school acceptances.”

The partnership with University of Memphis also includes two other Memphis-area institutions, widening the pathways local students who aspire to a career in medicine can achieve their goals.

Bill Hardgrave, PhD, president of University of Memphis, said of the agreement, “Providing our qualified, hard-working students a guaranteed interview with the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine further strengthens the important relationship between the two flagship public research universities in Tennessee. As a result, this partnership presents a terrific opportunity not only for our students but also our state as we work together to strengthen our communities and prepare the next generation of workforce leaders.”

The overarching goal of giving students more access to furthering their careers in medicine is to diversify the pool of potential doctors and medical staff in the local area to help ensure that the community has more access to quality healthcare.

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