Mission
Quillen College of Medicine is dedicated to training future doctors who are interested in primary care and many other specialties to serve in rural and underserved communities. The college also focuses on advancing biomedical research and enhancing healthcare in Northeast Tennessee and the Appalachian region.
Our Commitment to the Community
Quillen helps meet regional health needs by creating programs that draw on its expertise and community connections. As a major health care provider in East Tennessee, Quillen emphasizes primary care, where doctors are the first to see patients and manage their overall health.
Primary care is not a specific specialty but a role filled by doctors such as family physicians, general internists, pediatricians and OB/GYNs. Along with providing care and serving the community, the college also supports important medical research.
Expert Faculty
Quillen College of Medicine has a highly qualified faculty in biological, behavioral, and clinical sciences. In addition to full-time educators, many local doctors contribute as part-time or volunteer faculty to help teach and train medical students.
Quillen has advanced into one of the nation's top schools for training in rural medicine and primary care. This distinction is regularly recognized by U.S. News & World Report.
History
East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine, along with the College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, and College of Public Health, makes up the university’s health sciences center.
Founded in 1974, Quillen was established to train primary care doctors and increase the number of physicians serving rural areas. With more than 2,400 graduates, the college has stayed true to that mission.