KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of Tennessee Medical Center announced the promotion of longtime employee Teresa Levey to senior vice president and chief administrative officer. Levey, 55, has spent her entire professional career at the medical center, most recently serving as vice president of the medical center's Heart Lung Vascular Institute.
"Teresa has demonstrated her commitment to excellence for our patients and our organization throughout her nearly 30 year career at the medical center," said Joe Landsman, President and chief executive officer at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. "Her clinical background as a nurse combined with her operational experience will be of tremendous benefit as we adapt to the changes in healthcare while still advancing the quality of care for our patients."
Levey began her new role January 1. She replaced Norman Majors, who retired at the end of December. In the position, Levey is responsible for human resources, UT Day Surgery, UT LIFESTAR aeromedical services, facility operations, network development and the Heart Lung Vascular Institute.
"Moving into this role with the progression of healthcare reform provides the opportunity to further improve the access to and quality of care we provide for our patients," said Levey. "While we certainly anticipate some challenges as the implementation of healthcare reform takes shape, it is exciting to be a part of shaping healthcare delivery for the region."
Levey began her career as a staff nurse with the medical center in 1983, working her way up to nurse manager and director before earning promotion to vice president in 2005. She received her associate degree in nursing from Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tenn. Later, she obtained her Bachelor's and Master's from the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, where she earned awards for clinical excellence and academic achievement. Levey recently received recognition from the Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives for Excellence in Nursing Leadership.
The longtime resident of the East Tennessee area grew up in nearby Cocke County. She said she's learned a great deal about her new job and how to focus on serving the needs of an entire region by studying her predecessor. Majors also grew up in the local region and received recognition for expanding access to healthcare throughout the medical center's 21-county service area. The proximity to the medical center while growing up helped shape her career ambitions, Levey said.
"I immediately applied for a nursing position at The University of Tennessee Medical Center when I finished my education at Roane State," Levey explained. "I wanted to work at the 'big' hospital and I was so excited that I got the job. I've never once thought about leaving here. I love and respect the people who work here."
The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, the region's only hospital to achieve status as a Magnet® recognized organization, is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UT Medical Center, a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region's only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about The University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org">www.utmedicalcenter.org.
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