Ms. Caruthers joined the UTHSC PA Program faculty in January 2018. She holds her MS in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2009) and a MS in molecular, cellular and systemic physiology with a Certificate in anatomy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2005). Her career in academia started at SIUC as an anatomy instructor for the School of Medicine, but after earning her MSPAS, she served as PA faculty for approximately eight years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while working clinically in emergency medicine and urgent care. In between her teaching and administrative responsibilities at UTHSC, she practices primary care at the University Health Services clinic and at a local free clinic. Her passion to increase the representation of students who are from rural communities, from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well those historically not represented within the health professions is reflected in her local, state and national participation in a variety of health professions outreach activities.