What Clinical Care Services Are Associated with UTHSC?
Updated
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) provides clinical care through University Clinical Health and affiliated physician groups, including UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists and UT Regional One Physicians. This care is delivered at hospitals and other clinical sites across Tennessee, where UTHSC combines patient care with professional education and research. If you are looking for a specific service or provider, the UTHSC website offers Patients and Clinical Care entry points for further inquiry.
How UTHSC's Clinical Care Is Organized
UTHSC describes itself as Tennessee's only public, statewide academic health science system. Its clinical mission is not confined to a single hospital or clinic; instead, patient care, professional education, and research are carried out at hospitals and other clinical sites across the state.
The clinical care side of UTHSC is represented by these named entities:
| Entity | Role in Clinical Care |
|---|---|
| University Clinical Health | A clinical care organization associated with UTHSC |
| UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists | Pediatric specialist care |
| UT Regional One Physicians | Physician services associated with Regional One |
| University Health Services | Listed among UTHSC's clinical care offerings |
These groups reflect the academic health center model: faculty and clinicians who teach and conduct research also staff major hospitals across Tennessee.
Where Clinical Care Fits in UTHSC's Mission
UTHSC's stated mission is "transforming lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research/scholarship, clinical care, and public service." Clinical care is therefore one of four core pillars, not a separate side activity.
This matters for patients and prospective students alike:
- For patients: Care is connected to an academic institution, meaning clinicians are often involved in teaching and research alongside treatment.
- For students: Clinical sites across Tennessee serve as training environments, so education and patient care happen in the same settings.
- For the state: UTHSC faculty and clinicians staff major hospitals across Tennessee, tying the academic center directly to the state's health care delivery.
Colleges and Programs Behind the Clinical Enterprise
UTHSC's clinical care is supported by six colleges and academic programs:
- Dentistry — founded in 1878, the third oldest public college of dentistry in the United States; UTHSC trains 75 percent of Tennessee's dentists.
- Graduate Health Sciences — prepares scientists through research, education, and outreach.
- Health Professions — trains health professionals to address health care needs locally, nationally, and globally; 62 percent of graduates stay in Tennessee.
- Medicine — promotes statewide medical education with campuses in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and elsewhere.
- Nursing — UTHSC is the largest producer of doctorally prepared nurses in Tennessee.
- Pharmacy — UTHSC trains 34 percent of Tennessee's pharmacists.
Each of these programs feeds into the clinical care system, since students and residents train at the same hospitals and clinical sites where patients receive care.
How to Find Specific Clinical Care Services
If you need to locate a particular service, provider, or clinical site, the UTHSC website provides dedicated navigation for this purpose:
- Start with the Patients section — the site's main menu includes a Patients entry, intended for those seeking care information.
- Check the Clinical Care section — this area lists University Clinical Health, UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists, UT Regional One Physicians, and University Health Services.
- Use the site search — a "Search the Site" function is available if you already know the service or provider name.
- Look at campuses and clinical sites — UTHSC maintains a Campus Map and a list of Clinical and Educational Sites, which can help you identify where care is delivered.
Because UTHSC operates across multiple Tennessee campuses and affiliated hospitals, the specific location of a service depends on the provider group and clinical site. The website's Patients and Clinical Care entries are the appropriate starting points for confirming details.
What This Means for You
- If you are a patient or family member: UTHSC-associated care is delivered through University Clinical Health, UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists, UT Regional One Physicians, and University Health Services, at hospitals and clinical sites across Tennessee. Use the Patients or Clinical Care sections of uthsc.edu to find the right entry point.
- If you are a prospective student: Clinical care and your education are intertwined — you will train in the same hospitals and clinics where UTHSC faculty and clinicians practice.
- If you are researching UTHSC: The clinical care pillar is one of four mission areas, supported by six colleges and a statewide network of clinical and educational sites.