Advancing Health & Human Potential
Welcome to the heart and soul of transformative growth and holistic well-being! Operating from within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) at Belmont University, CARES works to maximize human potential and community flourishing. CARES aspires to apply the expertise within CPHS as we work strategically with partners and other stakeholders to address complex challenges and advance health.
Our Mission
To advance community flourishing through purposeful partnerships.
Our Vision
To have a global impact through the development of changemakers equipped to address complex challenges and advance health.
Our Goals
RESEARCH: Establish transdisciplinary research initiatives focused on identifying and addressing well-being and health outcomes.
ADVOCACY: Partner with stakeholders to advocate for evidence-based strategies that improve well-being and health outcomes.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Foster sustainable and impactful civic flourishing by developing mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse communities.
PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT: Advance practice by establishing a continuous learning culture that engages in scientific inquiry to contribute to evidence-based practice and transformational leadership.
EDUCATION: Integrate experiential and service learning across disciplines to maximize human potential and well-being.
What sets CARES apart?
CARES operationalizes “caring” as we foster life Abundant and Resilience as we work to provide Excellence from a foundation grounded in Spirituality. These guiding principles anchor our pillars of research, advocacy, community engagement, practice advancement, and education. CARES is uniquely positioned to work in collaboration with vital stakeholders to impact population health at the local, state, and national levels. By integrating evidence-based practice and perspectives of experts within CPHS, CARES provides a holistic understanding of population health outcomes.
Research: Research with Impact
CARES is committed to impactful research initiatives. By focusing on multi-disciplinary research that directly identifies and addresses well-being and health outcomes, CARES will ensure that its findings translate into evidence-based practices, informing real-world solutions.
Advocacy: Advocacy for Policy Change
CARES will identify issues through research and actively work toward influencing policies that can improve well-being and health outcomes at both community and systemic levels.
Community Engagement: Community-Centric Approach
CARES will prioritize community partnerships. The center will actively collaborate with diverse communities to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial initiatives.
Practice Enhancement: Continuous Learning Culture and Collaborative Practice
CARES places a strong emphasis on advancing practice through a continuous learning culture ensuring students and practitioners remain at the forefront of the latest advancements in their respective fields.
Education: Excellence in Experiential Learning
CARES will integrate experiential and service learning across disciplines. This approach not only maximizes impact but also ensures that students and community members actively participate in and benefit from the center's initiatives. As a teaching centered university, Belmont faculty and staff are responsible for preparing students for vocational roles and equipping them to be change-makers by creating a world where all are heard, respected, and included. CARES provides a mechanism for faculty, staff, and students to build connections and alliances with community members and other partners and stakeholders to implement actions to improve health equity, access, opportunity, and health outcomes for all people.
Our Projects
Our People
Christian Williams
Email: christian.williams@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey 438
Leigh Ann Bynum
Email: leighann.bynum@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 319
Foundational Leaders
Amanda Grieme Bradley
Email: amanda.griemebradley@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 362
Renee Brown
Email: renee.brown@belmont.edu
Office Location: Gordan E. Inman Center 206
Leigh Ann Bynum
Email: leighann.bynum@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 319
Douglas Crews
Email: douglas.crews@belmont.edu
Office Location: JMC 403 B
Edgar Diaz-Cruz
Email: edgar.diaz-cruz@belmont.edu%20|
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 327
Elena Wong Espiritu
Email: elena.espiritu@belmont.edu
Office Location: Inman Center 302C
Erin Feser
Office Location: Sport Science 5
Elisa Greene
Email: elisa.greene@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 335
Amy Henneman
Email: amy.henneman@belmont.edu
Office Location: Inman 403-12
Tom Knowles-Bagwell
Email: tom.bagwell@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 366
Mary Lefler
Email: mary.lefler@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 216
Lorry Liotta-Kleinfeld
Email: lorry.liottakleinfeld@belmont.edu
Office Location: Inman Center 305B
Mitch McCoy
Email: mitch.mccoy@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 3045
Natalie Michaels
Email: natalie.michaels@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter 400A
Arlie Paris
Email: arlie.paris@belmont.edu
Office Location: Inman Center 306A
Jarod Parrish
Email: jarod.parrish@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 331
Traci Poole
Email: traci.poole@belmont.edu
Office Location: McWhorter Hall 314
Sandy Stevens
Email: sandy.stevens@belmont.edu
Office Location: Inman Health Sciences Building 313
Mitchell Waters
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 360
Misty Wellman
Email: misty.wellman@belmont.edu
Office Location: Gordon E. Inman Center 206
Christian Williams
Email: christian.williams@belmont.edu
Office Location: JCM 438
Get Involved!
Pursue CARES initiatives with us to advance health and wellness for all.