Center for Health Workforce Development

The Center for Health Workforce Development (CHWD) has a mission to diversify the health care workforce by increasing the number of persons entering health professions from historically underrepresented groups. The individuals will be prepared for and practice in rural and urban underserved medical areas (RUMUAs) working with diverse populations. The CHWD will do this by supporting activities that provide students with a continuum of educational and clinical experiences called the High School to Practice Pathway (HSPP).

The CHWD will help to increase both the number and diversity of health professionals who practice in RUMUAs in Tennessee. Other activities to diversify the health professions workforce include provision of continuing education for practicing providers, supporting health professions career development activities for students in grades 9-12 and undergraduate collegiate students enrolled at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and placing graduating health professions students and community health workers in medically underserved and rural areas.

The HSPP will provide a continuum of educational and mentoring activities and clinical experiences and rotations for students enrolled in high school and collegiate HOSA chapters, community health worker training programs, the AHEC Scholars program, clinical rotations for health professions students, and placement in medically underserved communities of Tennessee. The CHWD will promote an inter-professional approach to education and training and collaborate with both health professions education and training programs in each region, such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, psychology, social work, physician assistant programs, nurse practitioner programs and public health and primary care clinics. The clinical experience of all health professions students will occur within federally qualified health centers or other primary care clinic that provides a patient centered medical home environment.

Kimberly Lamar, PhD, director