NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans supported their official healthcare partner, Saint Thomas Health at their new Maplewood Clinic location where leaders and associates hosted a grand opening ceremony to unveil the newly completed, walk-in primary clinic.

Metro Schools partnered with Saint Thomas Health to put an onsite health clinic at Maplewood High School and the walk-in clinic, to be called Saint Thomas Medical Partners Maplewood, will be open to the public, teachers, staff, students, student athletes and staffed by Saint Thomas Health physicians, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Daily attendance rates are expected to improve, as students who are ill will have the option to stay on campus instead of having to go home or be sent offsite to be assessed by a healthcare professional. The new clinic will create more learning opportunities available to students and will introduce high school seniors to health care professionals through the Saint Thomas Health Scholars Program.

"This whole community will have access to this clinic and be able to have services that they do not have today," said Karen Springer, President and CEO of Saint Thomas Health, a part of Ascension.

"It provides healthcare in an area where it's needed," said Dr. Shawn Joseph, MNPS Director of Schools. "It also gives our students learning opportunities and we can get our kids more inspired to jump into the world of healthcare."

"Our students will be able to get job shadowing as well as internship experiences," said Dr. Keely Jones-Mason, principal of Maplewood. "To see the cheerleaders here, the Titans players and mascot says 'that's community'. That's letting you know they see us, they support us and having them here was just another jewel to add."

The impact at Maplewood will go deeper than just physical health, it will be able to help with chronic health conditions that require immediate and long-term care.

The 2,935-square-foot project broke ground at Maplewood in October 2016, with which the regional health system partnered for more than a decade as part of Metro Schools' Academies of Nashville initiative. Leadership from Metro Nashville Public Schools along with elected officials and representation from the Mayor's office included - Senator Thelma Harper, State Representative Brenda Gilmore, Councilwoman Nancy VanReece, MNPS Director of Schools Dr. Shawn Joseph and Senior Advisor of Health & Wellness Nashville Mayor's Office Kristen Zak.

Former Titans players, Blaine Bishop, Craig Hentrich, Chris Hope and Chris Sanders, Titans cheerleaders, Evony, Jocelyn, Jordan and Sayuri along with mascot, T-Rac were also on hand to celebrate the grand opening.

"We are here to support Maplewood and Saint Thomas," said former Titans WR Chris Sanders. "It's a great event about a team of people coming together, coming into the community and doing something to benefit this community."

"We've been in a long-term partnership with the Titans and they believe like we do that we are a part of this community. We are a resource for the community, here to support the community and without them what are we? Having a clinic right here inside the high school is such a great opportunity!" said Springer.

ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH

In Tennessee, Ascension's Saint Thomas Health operates nine hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates.  Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $78 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2016.  Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.  Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia.   Visit www.sthealth.com.