Dr. Jennifer Tourville is a TN native, born and raised in Sevierville where she still resides. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing degree specializing in pediatrics from Vanderbilt University. She also received a post-graduate certificate in Health Policy from UT Knoxville.

Dr. Tourville’s scholarship is related to substance misuse and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. She currently has a dual appointment at UT. As an Assistant Clinical Professor for the UT Knoxville College of Nursing, she teaches undergraduate courses and mentors undergraduate and graduate student projects related to substance misuse. Working within a collaborative team, she co-directs a HRSA Rural Community Opioid Response Program grant that serves a 10-county area in rural East TN.

The other half of Dr. Tourville’s assignment is for the UT System as the Director of Substance Misuse Outreach and Engagement. She leads a new state-wide initiative, the SMART Policy Network (Substance Misuse and Addiction Resources for TN), with the aim to bridge research and state policy to address substance misuse issues in TN. Additionally, she leads the UT Knoxville Substance Misuse Community of Scholars. Other initiatives include supporting community partners and local task forces in their work to combat the opioid crisis and development of a collegiate recovery program for UT students.

Dr. Tourville still practices part-time working with newborns as a pediatric nurse practitioner.