What Sets CARES Apart

The Nashville Advantage

Nashville is a national health care industry capital, home to more than 900 health care companies that generate nearly $68 billion in local economic impact and support over 370,000 jobs. CARES leverages Belmont's location in this thriving ecosystem to connect students, faculty and community partners with industry leaders and innovative health care organizations.

Our Five 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 TRANSFORMATION: Develop and implement innovative practice models that meet gaps in care while improving outcomes.

EDUCATION: Integrate experiential and service learning across disciplines to maximize human potential and well-being.

A woman in a lab coat and purple gloves writes in a notebook in a laboratory. She is surrounded by shelves with lab equipment, conveying focus and concentration.

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.

A group of seven people stands in front of a mobile clinic van labeled "Flourish Health Clinic" with red ribbon decorations, conveying a celebratory tone.

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.

Patient entering the Flourish Health Clinic

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.

A woman in a black blazer explains a document to a seated man and a standing woman in a blue shirt. They look focused, in a classroom setting.

Practice Transformation: 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.

A Lindsay Ison instructs student in singing posture, gently touching her head. Background screens display "Let's sing!" in a bright, encouraging environment.

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.