Bret Berry

Title of Program: Health Care Law and Policy

E-mail Address: bremberr@vols.utk.edu

Hometown: Nolensville, TN

Year: 2023

Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2023

Description of Program:
Currently, Tennessee leads the nation in rural hospital closures per capita. These closures reduce access to health care, especially in Appalachia and rural Tennessee. As a result, these medically underserved areas have increased mortality rates for rural residents. As a result of the rising rate of rural hospital closures, I sought out an interdisciplinary program of study to better understand the cause of these closures. My program seeks to understand the political, economic, and legal factors that health care providers and organizations must encounter. I specifically plan to understand why rural hospitals are closing and how we can improve access to health care in rural Tennessee and throughout the south. Through my coursework, I hope to gain a better understanding of our current health care system and learn how we can improve it to support rural areas and increase health care equity, whether it be through policy solutions or through industry.

Departmental Emphases: Political Science, Economics, Public Health, Law, Nursing

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Katie A. Cahill (Baker Center), Dr. Carole Myers (College of Nursing)
Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.): Law School (and maybe an MPH or MPP)

Other Academic Interests: Appalachia, Medicaid Expansion, the Rural South, Philosophy, Geography and GIS
Prior Enrollment at Other Colleges or Universities: n/a

Study Abroad: Not yet! Hopefully in Summer 2022!
Research Experiences or Internships: In the summer of 2021, I conducted an Independent Study under the supervision of Dr. Myers. I researched rural health care and hospital closures and identified the impact on local emergency management and local access to health care.

Part-time employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities: Student Assistant at the Center for Global Engagement; Honors Ambassador with Honors & Scholars Programs; Administrative clerk/Legal Runner at Kramer Rayson LLP; Actor with UT Law Trial Advocacy Clinic; Vice President of External Affairs for University of Tennessee Mock Trial Organization; Remote Area Medical volunteer; Student Conduct Board member

Additional Information: In my free time I love to go hiking in the Smokeys or find a nice tree to hammock under on campus! You can also find me exploring a new coffee shop to study in!