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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

 

Restructures College of Graduate Health Sciences

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Memphis, Tenn. (February 10, 2009) – Today, Chancellor Hershel P. Wall, MD, announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has restructured its College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS).  Founded in 1928, the college offers seven highly sought advanced degree programs and has graduated nearly 1,200 Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, and Master of Dental Science degrees.   

 

Ed Schneider, PhD, interim dean for the CGHS, has stepped down.  Dr. Schneider, former associate dean in the CGHS and professor of Physiology, came out of retirement 18 months ago to serve as the interim dean.  “Ed has served admirably and enthusiastically,” Chancellor Wall said.  Cheryl Scheid, PhD, vice chancellor of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs, who serves as the UTHSC provost, has been named interim dean for CGHS until a permanent dean is hired.

 

Going forward, the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) will remain part of the College of Graduate Health Sciences but will be overseen by the College of Medicine.  “IPBS has been taught by faculty in the basic science departments in the College of Medicine and at St. Jude,” Chancellor Wall noted.  “This program has been very ably directed by Dr. Pat Ryan, associate professor of Molecular Sciences.”  With the restructuring, IPBS will now be administered by an associate dean in the UTHSC College of Medicine.  The associate dean will oversee all of the graduate programs under the College of Medicine — epidemiology, biomedical engineering and imaging, MD/PhD and IPBS.  Those programs in the other colleges of the Health Science Center will remain in place; i.e., students who enroll at UTHSC to earn advanced degrees in Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy will continue to enroll through the CGHS. 

 

“Over the past year, a task force reevaluated the structure of the college and employed the services of external consultants to develop recommendations for restructuring,” Chancellor Wall said.   Chaired by Dr. Scheid, the task force was composed of faculty from all six Health Science Center colleges and from St. Jude, which has a long and close association with the graduate school, as well as with members of the administration.  It also included representation from the graduate student leadership.  Three consultants from the graduate schools of the University of Massachusetts, Vanderbilt and Emory studied the situation, meeting with faculty, students and administrators at UTHSC and St. Jude.

 

“Although struggling with substantial reductions to the Health Science Center budget, this was not a major factor in our restructuring plan,” Dr. Wall observed.  “On the contrary, we are committed to maintaining the integrity of all colleges on our campus throughout the ongoing financial challenge of reduced state appropriations.”

 

The chancellor added, “We feel that the changes, now reviewed and discussed with all those involved in the CGHS, have ensured the integrity of the college and will significantly enhance the stature of the graduate program here and among our peer institutions.”

 

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy campuses in Knoxville, and a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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