Dean Williams Message

 

 

Welcome to
THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

We are thrilled to welcome you to East Tennessee State University College of Health Sciences during this exciting time of growth and transformation! As we rebrand and expand our portfolio to include additional high-demand programs, this name change reflects our broader focus and deepened commitment to applied health sciences education and research.

We are proud to establish two new Schools within the College of Health Sciences: The School of Clinical Sciences and the School of Human Performance and Sport Science. As our College continues to grow, we are excited to have recently welcomed our third cohort into the three-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program. Additionally, we are preparing to launch our Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics (MSOP) Program in January 2025. This program will be the first of its kind in Tennessee and the 14th in the nation, marking a significant milestone as we welcome our inaugural cohort of graduate students in this essential field.

Additionally, we are excited to announce the transition of several programs to our College, including the Counseling graduate program, Human Services undergraduate program, Exercise Science (Kinesiology) undergraduate program, Sport Science master’s and PhD programs, as well as the Center of Excellence in Sport Science and Coach Education. As a rapidly growing college in health, rehabilitation, and sport sciences, the College of Health Sciences combines outstanding faculty, challenging academic curricula, and state-of-the-art academic and clinical spaces to provide rigorous education and exemplary clinical experiences. Our College is now home to 21 clinical, rehabilitation, and sport science programs which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are among the fastest growing and highest demand health-related programs. 

As one of five health colleges within the ETSU Academic Health Sciences Center, we emphasize interprofessional education and collaborative practice to create an integrated and collaborative learning environment across health and rehabilitation professions. This approach connects disciplines, promotes teamwork, fosters mutual understanding, and strengthens research, ultimately enhancing the leadership capabilities of our graduates and improving health outcomes for individuals and populations. Our undergraduate and graduate students participate in the ETSU Interprofessional Education (IPE) Program, learning alongside peers from the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and public health. This collaborative learning environment reflects the future of health care and nurtures a deep appreciation for interprofessional collaboration.

Adjacent to ETSU lies the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachian Mountain range, lakes, and rivers that offer first class hiking, kayaking/canoeing, white-water rafting, and camping, as well as home to the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee.  East Tennessee State University is at the center of a thriving medical corridor that includes ETSU Health, Ballad Health system of 26 hospitals in northeast TN and southwest VA, and Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where the ETSU medical and pharmacy colleges are housed, along with our physical therapy, occupational therapy, and soon to begin orthotics and prosthetics programs. 

CCRHS is a vibrant community. Below are some of our unique strengths:

• • Our programs are among the best: Each of our programs rank in the top in their respective fields as tracked by U.S. News & World Report, including Audiology, which was recently noted as the 7th best program in the nation, Respiratory Therapy received national program of the year award in 2007. High academic standards and outcomes are achieved in each of the academic programs offered by the college. All of our graduates continue to exceed the national average on their respective professional licensure examinations.
  • Clinical excellence: We have a number of specialty clinics in speech and language (including autism, pediatric feeding, auditory/verbal, cochlear implant, concussion management), hearing (tinnitus, cochlear implant, hearing aid assessment and fitting), social work, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy (in conjunction with sport medicine), and dental hygiene. We also have over 400 contracts with external clinical sites. Our students develop clinical reasoning and evidence-based skills in a diverse range of interdisciplinary clinical settings. 
  • Interprofessional, team-based approach: Our team-based approach to treatment provides opportunities for our students, researchers, and clinicians to collaborate across disciplines in the college, as well as with faculty and students across the ETSU Academic Health Sciences Center.
  • Research transforms practice / practice drives research: Several faculties are engaged in federally funded research programs which provide opportunities for our students to gain clinical research experience in faculty labs, in area medical practices and in schools.

I am proud to be part of the important work being done at the College of Health Sciences. Throughout our College, we are united by a shared commitment to remove barriers related to disability, enhance quality of life and health, and promote the full participation of all individuals in society. With 21 academic programs united in one mission -- to improve the lives of others – we strive to provide an excellent education that is accessible to students of all walks, including low- and moderate-income students, first generation students, and students from underrepresented populations. By recruiting underrepresented groups into our programs, we ensure that our care remains culturally relevant. 

Our faculty and students are making a difference every day through their dedication and commitment to helping others. This core value motivates everything our College of Health Sciences community does. I invite you to explore our site and learn more about the breadth and depth of opportunities that the College of Health Sciences has to offer.

A. Lynn Williams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Honors, FASHA, FNAP
Interim Dean of CCRHS