Drs. Bhavna and Amit Vora have pledged $125,000 to fund the new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center, a Roane State Community College campus now open in West Knoxville.
“Education is the reason we are where we are today,” said Dr. Bhavna Vora, referring to herself and her husband, Dr. Amit Vora. “Coming from humble backgrounds, it opened doors that allowed us to become physicians and serve our communities. That is why supporting healthcare education by our monetary contribution matters deeply to us.”
Dr. Bhavna Vora is a family practice physician with an office on Lantana Road in Crossville. She is chair of the board of Summit Medical Group, one of the largest organizations of primary care physicians in East Tennessee. She also serves on the board of Roane State Foundation.
Dr. Amit Vora, an endocrinologist, is the chief of endocrinology and associate professor of medicine at University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Knoxville.
“When you educate one person, you uplift an entire family and strengthen the community around them,” Dr. Bhavna Vora added.
The new 130,000-square-foot health science education facility is at 9575 Sherrill Boulevard, across from Parkwest Medical Center, and houses health science programs offered by both Roane State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville.
The center expands Roane State’s presence in Knox County, with the nearby Center for Health Sciences on Hayfield Road also continuing operations.
Now that the campus is open, both Roane State and TCAT Knoxville are already beginning to significantly expand health science courses and programs. According to the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, employees in health and science fields are the most in-demand workers in East Tennessee right now.
“Everyone at Roane State is working to fulfill our mission of making higher education accessible to all, particularly in the area of health sciences,” explained Roane State President Chris Whaley. “Part of that mission is ensuring we educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, teaching them patient-centered care and life-saving skills that can transform communities. The regional impact of this new campus is just the beginning.”
The state contributed more than $67.5 million toward the $75 million project, with Roane State Foundation raising the remainder of the funds.
This contribution from the Voras brings the campaign to approximately 97% of its final goal.
Visit thrive.roanestate.edu for more information on the new campus and the continued fundraising campaign now focused on supporting student scholarships.
Roane State Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 corporation that seeks to enhance community awareness of the college, to secure private contributions and bequests, and to manage monies or properties given to the Foundation, including more than $35 million in endowments and other investments.
Roane State Foundation supports the college with capital projects, equipment, educational programs, and scholarships.
Go to roanestate.edu/foundation, email Foundationdept@roanestate.edu or call 865-882-4507 for more information