The fourth annual UT Health Science Center Giving Day on April 23 surpassed the goal of 1,000 donors in 24 hours with more than 1,100 donors from across the country and raised more than $660,000.
Giving Day is a one-day fundraising campaign to support the university and its service to improve the health care and health of Tennesseans. The UT Health Science Center Advisory Board led the way with 100 percent participation.
“UT Health Science Center is a philanthropic destination where all gifts make a difference,” Vice Chancellor for Advancement Brigitte Grant says. “It is affirming to see hundreds of individuals come together from within the state and across the county investing in the work going
on every day for better health and health care.”
Improving Community Health
A partnership of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the Soulsville Foundation, the Soulsville community and the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation has launched the UTHSC Health Hub: Soulsville to bring affordable and accessible primary care to the historic Soulsville neighborhood in Memphis.
The primary care offered through UTHSC Health Hub: Soulsville is targeted to Soulsville residents. Personnel will be from Soulsville or engaged in the community, along with health care professionals from UT Health Science Center. The new health hub aligns with the university’s ongoing effort to strengthen partnerships and engage communities to improve health.
Ken Tilashalski Named Dean of College of Dentistry
Dr. Ken Tilashalski has been named dean of the College of Dentistry. Tilashalski, known as ‘Dr. T’ to students, has served as the executive associate dean of the college since September 2023. He will succeed Dr. James Ragain, who has served as the college’s dean since 2018, overseeing the opening of the $45 million Delta Dental of Tennessee Building on the Memphis campus and the launch of the $53 million Healthy Smiles Initiative, a five-year project to increase access to dentists and dental care statewide.
“I am truly honored to be a part of such a great university and college,” Tilashalski says. “We have a unique opportunity to build on the Healthy Smiles Initiative to improve the lives of the citizens of Tennessee across the state. Dean Ragain has left a fantastic foundation for our future, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our outstanding faculty and staff, dedicated alumni and statewide partners to do this important work.”
Ragain will assume the title of dean emeritus and will help to direct the work done through the Healthy Smiles Initiative.
