The new agreement will provide TSU students with access to clinical immersion opportunities hosted by VUMC, as well as the ability to strengthen their applications to VUMC’s athletic training program.
Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have formed a partnership that will benefit students interested in pursuing athletic training and sports medicine. The newly formed articulation agreement will give Tennessee State University students the unique opportunity to participate in clinical immersion workshops hosted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, exposing TSU students to training from VU faculty in these areas while strengthening their applications for the competitive sports training program at VUMC.
According to an article on Tennessee State University’s website, Nick Caporale, who serves as an associate athletic trainer at VUMC, explained the benefits of this partnership. He is quoted as saying, “This collaborative effort between Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center will provide TSU students interested in athletic training and sports medicine with the opportunity to learn directly from VUMC’s Athletic Training staff on the sidelines of Vanderbilt athletic events. Our goal is to build a consistent and collaborative relationship that helps prepare these students to become strong candidates for future master’s degree programs in athletic training.”
Students in Tennessee State University’s Human Performance and Sport Sciences program will be enrolled into Vanderbilt University’s semester-long clinical immersions while also completing their own courses at TSU, which include foundational courses in physical education, health education, exercise science, and sport administration. Schedules will be coordinated between the clinical immersions and TSU courses for participating students, giving them the opportunity to receive important hands-on practice with VUMC faculty, mentorship, and specialized guidance that will assist students in strengthening their applications for the master’s degree programs offered by VUMC.
Dr. Jason Smith, who serves as the chair of the HPSS department, said, “The professionalism demonstrated by the team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center throughout this process has been exceptional. This agreement enhances the growing legacy of Tennessee State University’s Human Performance and Sport Sciences department, aligning it with the nation’s premier universities and medical centers. The HPSS department has established new pathways to success for our students by creating athletic training agreements with MTSU and now VUMC. We are also proud to see our respected Exercise Science program continue to flourish as we create these partnerships and a legacy.”
For more information about Tennessee State University, visit the school’s website.