The Papasan Institute's goal is to foster information flow on key issues facing the Tennessee State Legislature. Legislators and government officials will be invited to listen to panel discussions comprised of key experts including corporate, government, and academic professionals. At the end of the forum, time will be allotted for discussion on the issue between the panel and the audience.

Please view our forums from 2008 by clicking links to the right.

The Institute was named in honor of Larry Papasan. Larry served as Chair of the Board of Visitors and Foundation Board of Trustees from 2003-2007. During which, his leadership enhanced the reputation of the University. He is an inspiration to us all, and because of his passion for the University, love of the Memphis community, and devotion to education and scholarly engagement, it was fitting to name this institute in his honor.

For 2008, the Institute hosted 4 forums in Nashville for the State Legislature. The forums were held on Mondays before the House and Senate convened for the week. Attendance ranged from 50 – 100. The audience was comprised of elected officials, representatives from both non-profit and corporate entities, as well as General Assembly staff and lobbyists.

Tennessee in Crisis: The Nursing and Healthcare Jobs Shortage

The first public policy forum focused on the shortage of nurses and allied health workers in Tennessee. Cameron Harper, from Channel 24 News in Memphis was the moderator of the event. Panel members included: Dr. Marjorie Luttrell, Dean of the Loewenburg School of Nursing at the University of Memphis; Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, Dean of Nursing at Vanderbilt; Dr. Jo Edwards, an allied health expert from Middle Tennessee State University; Mr. Calvin Anderson, Vice President of BlueCross BlueShield of TN; and Commissioner Stephen Norris from the Division of Mental Retardation Services. The discussion included facts about the severity of the crisis, how this shortage is affecting patient care, and what the State can do to help solve the problem. Overall, the consensus was the need for more space for nursing and health-related programs, more nurses willing to become educators, and incentive packages to go into nursing fields. Bad working conditions and long hours also were cited as negatives that need to be overcome to retain the nurses we do have. Dean Luttrell emphasized the need for State funding to help the U of M build a new nursing facility.

The Future of Smoking: Tennessee, Taxes, and Tobacco The next forum highlighted the recent trend by the State of Tennessee to go “no smoking”.

Last year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation on tobacco and its usage. First, the tax on cigarettes was raised from 42 cents to 62 cents per pack, and for the first time in Tennessee history, our state appropriated $10 million in the FY 2007/08 budget for tobacco cessation. And lastly, as a result of the Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act, on June 11, 2007 smoking became illegal in work environments. The panel discussed what impact this trend has on healthcare costs, overall health of citizens, and the economic impact on agriculture and taxes. The history of the Tobacco Settlement and how the funds have been allocated also was an important part of the forum. Cris Hardaway, local public television personality in Memphis, participated as the moderator. The panel was comprised of Deputy Commissioner Mike Morrow from the Tennessee Dept. of Finance & Administration, Commissioner Susan Cooper from the Dept. of Health, Dr. Michelle Stockton from the U of M Dept. of Health & Sports Sciences, Mr. Joe Zorzoli from Pfizer, Inc., and Mr. Richard Morris, tobacco farmer and staff member of the USDA Farm Service Agency. This event showcased the nationally recognized research that faculty at the U of M are doing in the area of smoking cessation.

The Future of Telecommunications: Where Does Tennessee Go From Here?

Shaye Mandle, the Executive Director of the FedEx Institute of Technology, played an important role in this forum. As the moderator, Mr. Mandle’s expertise in this field was evident as he led an informative discussion on broadband technology and what Tennessee is doing to expand broadband to everyone in the state. Panel participants included: Commissioner Matt Kisber from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development; Mark Reavis, Director of Network & Computer Operations at the University of Memphis; Michael Ramage, Executive Director for Connected Tennessee; and Keith Williams the CEO of Community Health Network, Inc. The discussion primarily focused on how important broadband is to improving our economy and quality of life in Tennessee. The Community Health Network is currently focused on connectivity for non-profit healthcare sites across the state. The non-profit also is creating a health information exchange and ePrescription project for the State of Tennessee. Connected Tennessee’s mission is to change the mindset of rural Tennesseans, emphasizing how the using the internet will have a positive economic impact to their community. A priority for the State of Tennessee is to expand the broadband network so that every citizen in the State can have access to the internet. Unbelievably, there are still parts of Shelby County that do not have access.

The Coming Storm: Is Tennessee Prepared for the Coming Catastrophe?

Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath made many citizens curious as to if our state is prepared for a disaster. This forum brought together experts on both man-made and natural catastrophes to discuss what Tennessee is currently doing to prepare, and also what the average individual can do to be ready. The event was moderated by Lisa Spencer, Chief Meteorologist for WSMV Nashville. Lisa has had first hand experience with weather related disasters, having worked in North Carolina covering hurricanes, and then, in Nashville, covering the many tornadoes that have devastated the region. As for the panel, participants included: Charles Bryant, Assistant Director for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency; Dave Lannom, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Liaison with the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security; Arch Johnston, Executive Director for the U of M Center for Earthquake Research & Information; and Steve Guillot, Director for the National Center for Emergency Preparedness at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This forum provided life-saving information to the public, while assuring the citizens that Tennessee is actively working on preparing for disasters. The forum participants stressed the need for public awareness and education, as well as improved communication between volunteers, government agencies, and medical personnel.