AHEAD-RN
Addressing Health Equity, Access, and Diversity
Dr. Brooke Epperson (pictured above with UTC nursing students) and the School of Nursing have been funded $1,388,439 over a three-year project period for AHEAD-RN—an acronym for Addressing Health Equity, Access, and Diversity through Nursing simulation experiences and partnerships.
Through AHEAD-RN, UTC and clinical partners will increase the availability and capacity of nurses by concentrating on the health care needs and improving patient outcomes of rural and/or medically underserved populations. They will use innovative academic-practice partnerships to prepare undergraduate nursing students for the workforce through clinical and simulation experiences that combine academic and clinical learning.
Landing the award is especially noteworthy, according to ORSP, because it is the first grant funding received for the UTC undergraduate BSN program in many years.
2026 Conference is Wednesday March 4th! Details are on the conference website.
AHEAD-RN Grant Team Members
• Project Director – Brooke Epperson
• Project Manager – Maggie Duckworth
• Outreach Coordinator – Tessa Mullinax-Baker
• Academic Nursing Faculty/ Coordinator – Rosebelle Peters
• Project Evaluator – Jenny Holcombe
