Roane State Community College

^{_{Drs. Bhavna and Amit Vora (pictured above on the far right) present Roane State Foundation and college personnel with a check for $125,000 in support of the new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center. Above (left to center) are Foundation Executive Director Scott Niermann, Director of Simulation Victoria Battershell, and Dean of Health Sciences Patricia Jenkins.}}

May 21, 2026

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 the heart of 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 who is also chair of the board of Summit Medical Group, the largest organization 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 located 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 (TCAT) 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 Dr. 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 of Tennessee 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.

For more information on the new campus and the continued fundraising campaign now focused on supporting student scholarships, visit thrive.roanestate.edu.