Tennessee

Tennessee, other states with abortion bans see drop in doctor residency applicants

Published

2 years ago

June 13, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee, other states with abortion bans see drop in doctor residency applicants

Tennessee already faces a doctor shortage and a new
study by the Association of American Medical Colleges charted a sharp decline in residency applications.

Fewer rising doctors are interested in finishing their medical training in Tennessee, a concerning trend for a state already facing a physician shortage that is only projected to worsen over the next decade.

Tennessee last year saw a significant decrease in medical residency applications from medical school graduates entering the final phase of their training, according to a new study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which also found that states with strict abortion bans experienced significant decreases in applications.

These states experienced decreases specifically to obstetrics and gynecology programs, despite a slight uptick in OB-GYN interest on average nationwide. While abortion laws can vary from state to state, many can carry criminal charges for doctors and complicate required medical education in reproductive health, abortion and pregnancy care.

In 14 states with abortion bans, researchers charted a nearly 7% decrease in OB-GYN program applications.

The landscape significantly worsened in Tennessee. Tennessee’s overall residency applications declined by more than 12%. Even larger decreases were seen in the OB-GYN specialty, at a nearly 21% decrease, and pediatrics specialty, at nearly 20%.

“The primary issue is we’re already in a health care provider shortage,” said Dr. Kyla Terhune, who leads Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s graduate medical education.

Tennessee’s doctor shortage among worst

A 2020 study forecast Tennessee will be short nearly 6,000 needed doctors by 2030, one of the worst shortages in the nation. The state has made some efforts to reverse the slide, such as a 2023 law creating a pathway for international doctors to practice in the state, but it has not yet reversed the trend.

Though the AAMC study only reviewed a year of data, continued decreases in doctors looking to finish their medical training in Tennessee could exacerbate these shortages.

Legal arguments: Court hears challenge to Tennessee abortion ban for those with health risks

“Any drop at all is concerning, because that only perpetuates the shortage,” Terhune said. “Every drop is really critical.”

At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the pediatrics residency program saw a 10% decrease in residency applications. UTHSC pediatrics residency program director Dr. Bindiya Bagga said this mirrors a nationwide trends in pediatrics programs.

Bagga said through conversations with colleagues across the country, it seems local and state politics regarding access to reproductive health and transgender care “could certainly have played a significant role in applicant decisions, but it is hard to assign direct causality.”

Public policy plays role in recruitment

Terhune said local policies play a role in recruitment for young doctors in training who are looking not just for their future professional home, but a place to potentially start or grow their family.

“If you’re a young person at the beginning of your training, with a lot of uncertainty about your life and profession, it could impact our ability to recruit within the state,” Terhune said of Tennessee’s near-total abortion ban.

As rising doctors last year considered their residency options, Tennessee lawmakers were debating a small but significant change to the state’s abortion ban, which originally required doctors to knowingly commit a felony to perform an abortion, even to save a patient’s life. Tennessee doctors decried the state’s trigger ban as dangerous, and possibly deadly, for patients, and a severe legal burden for healthcare professionals.

Three women sue Tennessee over abortion law they say causes ‘catastrophic’ risks

In April 2023, the General Assembly passed a narrow legal exception allowing doctors to perform an abortion if their “reasonable” medical judgment finds it would prevent the death or severe injury of a pregnant patient.

“When providers face legal challenges when they’re trying to do their job, trying to provide care for individuals, that’s a very scary proposition. That’s very scary for someone beginning their training,” Terhune said. “If they have the option to be in a place where they will be protected and get the training they need for individuals they might encounter, they’re going to choose that place to train.”

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Tennessee

Tennessee is 230 years old, and it all started right here in Knoxville

Published

8 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee is 230 years old, and it all started right here in Knoxville

Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796, after President George Washington signed the bill for its admission.
John Sevier was chosen as the first governor, and Knoxville was the state’s first capital.
Before becoming a state, the territory was known as the “Southwest Territory” and briefly existed as the unrecognized state of Franklin.
The state has had three constitutions, with the current one adopted in 1870 after the Civil War.

Much to-do is being made of America’s 250th birthday, as well it should.

But did you know June 1 is Tennessee’s 230th birthday?

It was on June 1, 1796, that President George Washington signed a bill granting Tennessee immediate admission as the 16th state. Gov. John Sevier was chosen to lead the new state, and Knoxville was picked as its first capital.

A decade before, settlers west of the Appalachian mountains had sought admission to the union for the state of Franklin. But despite four years of existence, Franklin never gained federal approval.

Tennessee’s first official state constitution – drafted by 55 delegates in Knoxville in 1796 – is on display at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

It was drafted in the home of William Blount, which still stands on West Hill Avenue in downtown Knoxville.

Tennessee actually has three state constitutions: the first, adopted in 1796, a revision adopted in 1834 to update the taxation and court systems, and the 1870 constitution, adopted after the Civil War.

The 1870 constitution permanently abolished slavery in Tennessee and remains the state’s fundamental charter.

Celebrate Tennessee’s birthday in Knoxville

Marble Springs State Historic Site, home of Gov. John Sevier, will have a two-day free party for Tennessee’s Statehood Day.

Tennessee Field Day for kids (or kids at heart) is noon-5 p.m. May 29 and Statehood Day is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 30. Field Day explores history through many aspects and activities, and Statehood Day focuses more on lectures, demonstrations, music, line dancing and food.

The historic buildings and learning center are at 1200 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway in Knoxville.

Look back at how Tennessee was founded

1785-1789: Settlers establish independent systems of government and petition to become a state, but they fail to gain recognition for the state of Franklin. The territory is again under the control of North Carolina.

1789: North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and cedes its Tennessee lands to the federal government. It is designated as the “Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio,” more commonly known as the “Southwest Territory.” William Blount is appointed by George Washington to be governor. Early governance of the territory is focused on making treaties with Native Americans, securing settlers from attacks and encouraging settlement. Warfare with Native American tribes increases through the 1790s.

1792: Knoxville is selected as the capital of the Southwest Territory.

January 1796: Gov. William Blount calls for a constitutional convention in Knoxville to begin the process of joining the Union. The delegates form an organized government and constitution before applying to Congress for admission to the Union. The delegates select John Sevier as governor, William Blount and William Cocke as senators and Andrew Jackson as representative.

June 1, 1796: Tennessee becomes the 16th state in America. Knoxville remains the capital until 1812.

1812: Tennessee earns its nickname “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812 because it sends 1,500 volunteer soldiers.

1812-1816: Nashville is Tennessee’s capital.

1817-1818: Knoxville is Tennessee’s capital again.

1818-1826: Murfreesboro is the capital of Tennessee.

1826-present day: Nashville becomes – and remains – the capital of Tennessee.

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Tennessee

Former Tennessee Baseball Pitcher Gets Called Up

Published

20 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Baseball Pitcher Gets Called Up

The Tennessee Volunteers are constantly getting players in the MLB and the MILB farm system, which is the developmental program that all rookies and young players (a.k.a. prospects) start off in. One of the players who has been in the farm system since being drafted is Nate Snead, who was with the Tennessee Vols just last season as a pitcher, and one of the better pitchers on the Tennessee roster.

Nate Snead is one of the better players to come through the Tennessee program as a reliever, and he is one of the better pitchers when it comes to his fastball, as he throws what many would confirm to be “gas.”

Nate Snead Gets Called Up

Feb 18, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nate Snead poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Snead was in Single-A to start his career, but he is now on his way up, as he is moving up to Double-A after a great start to his career. He is heading to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. This would mean he is in the same farm system that both Christian Moore and Ben Joyce recently had to come through, and is one of the better players in the farm system for the Angels, anyway.

He currently holds an ERA of 2.80, which is great considering he has pitched 35.1 innings. He holds a win-loss record of 3-3, and also has a total of 39 strikeouts, which would mean he is averaging more than a strikeout every inning he pitches. He is also giving up less than a hit an inning, which is where he should be in order to get called up.

This decision doesn’t seem rushed, and it doesn’t seem that this is going to backfire. He will likely finish his season in Double-A, although a great stretch could lead to him being fast-tracked to Triple-A, the final team before the majors.

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Tennessee

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee today? Time, TV for WCWS softball game

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee today? Time, TV for WCWS softball game

Two teams who feel fated to face off will play each to open each other’s respective Women’s College World Series.

The Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Lady Vols square up in a battle of block Ts and oranges, with two of the sport’s eminent aces potentially facing off in Teagan Kavan and Karlyn Pickens.

Texas, the defending national champions, defeated the Lady Vols 2-0 in last year’s semifinals to advance to the Women’s College World Series final. It’s a massive game for Tennessee, which is looking to avoid dropping into the loser’s bracket as it did in 2023 and 2025. The goods news? Oklahoma isn’t in this field, which is the team that dropped Tennessee in both of those showings.

With that being said, Texas is a softball superpower in its own right. Led by Katie Stewart, the Longhorns have some big bats. Tennessee will need production from its bats if it is to win this opening matchup.

Watch Texas vs Tennessee live with Fubo (free trial)

Here’s how to watch Texas-Tennessee in a high-profile matchup.

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee softball on today?

Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series will air on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Watch 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament live with Fubo (free trial)