Bailee Smith didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a college professor. In fact, she didn’t even start college planning to pursue cognitive science. But as she prepares to walk across the McKenzie Arena stage on May 2 to receive her master’s degree, she is already envisioning life as Dr. Smith.
Social work students take advocacy to heart during State Capitol visit
For social work students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the 2025 Social Work Day on the Hill was more than a visit to the Capitol—it was an opportunity to bring real-world advocacy to life. Day on the Hill, organized by the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, gives social work students the chance to see the legislative process in action while learning how advocacy can shape their professional paths.
Taking nursing where it’s needed: AHEAD-RN program prepares students for rural impact
Through the AHEAD-RN traineeship led by Dr. Brooke Epperson, associate director of the School of Nursing and the undergraduate program coordinator, eight nursing students are diving into the realities of rural health care. They’re learning that providing quality care in these communities isn’t just about medical skills—it’s about adaptability, cultural sensitivity and resourcefulness in environments where health care access can be severely limited.
UTC rolls out MobileMOC health clinic
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 25, to mark the official launch of MobileMOC—the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing’s new mobile outreach health clinic designed to expand health care access for older adults and caregivers in rural Southeast Tennessee.
UTC’s MobileMOC hitting the road to serve rural communities
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s School of Nursing is set to unveil MobileMOC, a mobile outreach health clinic designed to expand health care access for older adults and caregivers in rural Southeast Tennessee.
Beyond the hospital: UTC nursing aids Hamilton County corrections
The Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center now serves as an unconventional classroom for nursing students at UTC. Now in its fourth semester, this jail rotation is a crucial component of the community nursing course—the result of a partnership between the School of Nursing and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Small groups of students assist the jail’s clinical staff with health assessments, vital signs and lab work, gaining insights that extend beyond nursing basics.
Flexing their knowledge, UTC physical therapy student group wins national competition
Third-year UTC DPT students Lauren Clark, Jaimin Rasmussen, Candace Ricketts and Rebecca Sullivan—all set to graduate in May—defeated student teams from some of the nation’s top-ranked DPT programs in winning the APTA Combined Sections Meeting Knowledge Bowl in Houston.
Running on research: How UTC’s marathon project is shaping Chattanooga’s running community
As the sun set at the end of a snowy Wednesday, a group of runners made their way around the track at Girls Preparatory School. The group, made up of mostly UTC students along with a few faculty members and local residents, was part of the “Chattanooga Marathon Project” research initiative.
Critical moments, confident leaders: UTC paving the way in CRNA education
In surgery, it’s not just the surgeon’s hands that matter. As patients “go under,” the nurse anesthetist takes command, managing the delicate line between unconsciousness and stability. At UTC, CRNA expertise is cultivated with care, preparing future nurse anesthetists to handle operating room pressures with confidence and skill.
UTC, SETAAAD partner to bring vital health programs to Southeast Tennessee seniors
UTC is expanding its reach in Southeast Tennessee by partnering with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD) to bring evidence-based programs to senior centers across a 10-county region—Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie. The UTC interprofessional initiative is being spearheaded by Dr. Kristi Wick (Nursing), Dr. Erin Melhorn (Occupational Therapy) and Dr. Cathy Scott (Social Work).