President Hurley announces opening of the University Health Center

GREENEVILLE – Focusing on the well-being of faculty, staff and students, Tusculum University is establishing the University Health Center to serve their primary care health needs.

Dr. James Hurley

The center will be located in the Meen Center on the Greeneville campus and will assist members of the Tusculum family experiencing minor health needs. Caregivers on the Tusculum staff will examine those who need basic primary care and eye care and refer them to other medical providers as needed for treatment.

“Tusculum is committed to serving Appalachia and created the College of Health Sciences to expand access to care for people, especially in rural communities,” said Dr. James Hurley, the university’s president. “We have many exceptional faculty members whose skills will be put to great use through this beneficial on-campus center.”

Scheduled to open Friday, Aug. 2, the center will also serve as a clinical training site for students, such as those pursuing degrees in nursing and behavioral health, as they develop their abilities. That will also include the physician assistant program, with Dr. Donny Reeves as program director, as Tusculum continues through the accreditation process for that initiative.

Serving as the center’s CEO will be Dr. Hurley, and Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, executive vice president of the College of Health Sciences and founding dean of Tusculum’s Niswonger College of Optometry, will be chief operating officer. Working closely with Dr. Buzzelli in the University Health Center’s development is Troy Sybert, M.D., president and founder of TroyMD Wellness in Johnson City.

“Throughout our 225 years in the region, Tusculum has been deeply connected with the people we serve,” said Dr. Greg Nelson, chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees. “The center enables professors to keep their medical skills sharp, offers an exceptional mentoring opportunity for students and demonstrates Tusculum’s ongoing leadership in health care.”

For more information about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.