Lipscomb Health: Committed to being a light
Quincy Byrdsong |
Hello Lipscomb family and supporters!
In our last newsletter, we announced the arrival of the 18th president of Lipscomb University, Dr. Candice McQueen. President McQueen has hit the ground running and has been a true champion for Lipscomb Health.
On March 28-30, 2022, Lipscomb University will celebrate the inauguration of President McQueen with a series of exciting activities and events with the theme of “Be a Light” which comes from Matthew 5:14-16 where Jesus told his followers that they were “the light of the world” and to let their “light shine before men.”
I have the privilege of hosting a Lipscomb Health panel discussion on Monday, March 28 entitled “Be a Light through Healing Presence.” The panel will have include:
- Dr. Morgan Wills, president and CEO of Siloam Health;
- Joanna Conley, CEO of TriStar Southern Hills;
- Dr. Regina Offodile, co-director of the Interprofessional and Inter-Institutional Collaborative for the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance; and
- Dr. Gavin Pinkston of the Medical Group of Columbia.
During the panel, we will be discussing the intersection of faith and health, trends in the health care industry, inter-professional education and collaborative care models and purposeful preparation through preceptor engagement. We are looking forward to an illuminating panel of these distinguished supporters of Lipscomb Health.
As Lipscomb Health continues to Elevate the Profession, Enhance Partnerships and Empower People, I have several other exciting announcements:
On Jan. 4, Dr. Jason Huddleston joined Lipscomb Health as its new program director for the School of Physician Assistant Studies. Jason comes to Lipscomb from Middle Tennessee State University where he led didactic education for their new physician assistant education program.
Dr. Huddleston received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Carson Newman University, his Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida, a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration and Management and a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg. Jason has a wealth of experience, including twenty years of clinical practice experience. As well as experience in clinical and didactic physician assistant education.
On Jan. 20, the Department of Kinesiology received initial accreditation of its exercise science program from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, becoming the first and only accredited exercise science program in the state of Tennessee. Congratulations to the Department of Kinesiology for this accomplishment and thanks to department Chair Dr. Ruth Henry and Program Director Dr. Kent Johnson for leading these efforts.
On Jan. 24, President McQueen announced a new Office of Research and Grants to provide additional infrastructure for research administration. This office will allow Lipscomb Health to continue to grow its research efforts and create a center of research excellence in our focus areas of drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics and exercise science.
Finally, Lipscomb Health has added two masters programs to its academic portfolio: Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science and Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition. These new Masters programs will be critical to our mission of improving community health and filling workforce demands for scientists in drug, biologic and vaccine development as well as clinicians in dietetic foundations of health promotion and chronic disease prevention and management. There is more info to come on these programs and other programs being developed to advance knowledge, inquiry and practice in health care.
As always, thank you for your support of Lipscomb Health!
Quincy Byrdsong, Ed.D., CIP, CCRP
Vice Provost of Health Affairs, Lipscomb University