Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence

07/28/2026

Director Matt McDaniel, MPH, was excited to see the progress at The Free Medical Clinic in Oak Ridge, where funding from the Center of Excellence is being used in planning to turn a former armory building into an expanded free clinic. He is pictured with clinic Executive Director Billy Edmonds.

07/24/2026

Director Matt McDaniel, MPH, visited the Obion County Health Council in Union City this week. County health councils have been active in Tennessee for the last 20 years and are a great point of contact for healthcare in rural communities. The council members typically represent sectors including education, planning, local government, healthcare, mental health, juvenile justice, local non-profits, and social service organizations. The Tennessee Department of Health, through its Office of Community collaboration and Impact, supports county health councils in 89 rural counties and collaborates with partners in the six metro counties.

07/23/2026

Mark your calendars now to participate in this exciting new webinar series on telehealth that we are offering in collaboration with the UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences South Central Telehealth Resource Center! You may register for the first episode at this link: https://tennesseehipaa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T1gFRoYbQymHPAO8ab-SAA #/registration

07/13/2026

Today is the deadline to submit a proposal to the Center of Excellence for a telehealth equipment expansion. The deadline was extended to 6:00 pm today. A minimum of four (4) Telehealth Equipment Packages will be awarded through a competitive review process. Up to $25,000 per award. Equipment will be purchased and shipped to the awarded organizations. Learn more at

Request for Proposal The Request for Proposal for Telehealth Equipment Expansion has been issued by the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Science Center. A minimum of four (4) Telehealth Equipment Packages will be awarded through a competitive review process. Up to $25,00...

07/10/2026

Director Matt McDaniel traveled in West Tennessee this week meeting with health care leaders in Weakley, Henry, and Houston counties. He is pictured at the top with the Weakley County Health Council. He also visited with Paula C. Bell, PharmD, BCPS (bottom left), who is the CEO of the West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital, and with the Henry County Health Council (bottom right).

07/06/2026

The Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence has extended its application deadline to July 13 for telehealth equipment funding for eligible rural facilities and clinics in the Tennessee. This initiative seeks to expand access to high-quality healthcare services by strengthening telehealth infrastructure across rural, underserved, and medically vulnerable communities. A minimum of four Telehealth Equipment Packages will be awarded through a competitive review process. Up to $25,000 will be provided per award. Learn more and apply at

Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence Members of the operational team for the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Science Center recently gathered at the inaugural Center of Excellence Conference. Vision Empowering rural communities for a healthier Tennessee. Mis...

06/24/2026

Our third Mobile Mondays webinar will be here before you know it! Please join us at noon CST on June 29 to hear from the Champions of Mobile Health Panel. In this session, we’ll hear from three practitioners who are utilizing mobile health services in their respective fields.
Today, we are highlighting panelist Shellie Hall, M.Ed., executive director of Sevier and Cocke County services for the McNabb Center. Five years ago, the McNabb Center was awarded Project Rural Recovery, an initiative led by Ms. Hall and her team that provides mobile integrated care services across five rural counties in East Tennessee. She is a strong advocate for increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by rural populations and believes that education, collaboration, and advocacy are essential to building healthier, more resilient communities. Join the webinar at this link: https://tennesseehipaa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vjgICfFoR9GEtRj7FGjdPg #/registration

06/22/2026

We are really looking forward to our third Mobile Monday at noon CST on June 29! We will present the Champions of Mobile Health panel, which includes the following:
Dr. Kristi Wick, DNP, FNP-BC, GS-C, Primary Investigator, UTC MobileMoc Program
Greg Cain, PA-C, MHS: CEO / Medical Director of United Primary Care
Shellie Hall, M.Ed., Executive Director, Sevier and Cocke County Services, The McNabb Center
We will share a bit about each of the panelists this week, starting with Dr. Wick, who is a nationally recognized nurse executive and health systems innovator serving as the Vicky B. Gregg Chair of Gerontology and UC Foundation Associate Professor at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Nursing. Her scholarship focuses on nurse-led innovation models that advance care for older adults, family caregivers, and medically underserved populations through gerontology, community-based care, and health systems redesign. Register for the webinar here: https://tennesseehipaa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vjgICfFoR9GEtRj7FGjdPg

06/18/2026

Director Matt McDaniel, MPH, traveled to Clarksville this week, where he met with members of the Montgomery Health Council. The group included Renee Bruens, health educator at the Montgomery County Health Department; McDaniel; Joey Smith, Public Health Director for Clarksville-Montgomery County; Wes Golden, Mayor of Montgomery County; and Karen Anderson, who chairs the Montgomery Co. Health Council. Montgomery County is one of the largest non-metropolitan counties in Tennessee.

06/16/2026

If you are interested in rural healthcare, be sure to attend this webinar at noon CST on June 17. This session will provide an overview of WestCare Tennessee’s Rural Healthcare Resiliency Program (RHRP), Prevent and Prosper. It is an initiative in Cocke County and the ongoing development of a community health hub model. The program was initially developed based on a community needs assessment conducted by the Cocke County Health Council. This presentation will explore how that initial framework translated into real-world implementation and how direct community engagement further shaped the program’s direction. Register for Prevent and Prosper: From Paper Plans to Kitchen Table Conversations on our website under Upcoming Webinars:

Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence Members of the operational team for the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Science Center recently gathered at the inaugural Center of Excellence Conference. Vision Empowering rural communities for a healthier Tennessee. Mis...