Lipscomb University is beginning its 130th academic year by setting an all-time enrollment record and has topped 4,700 for the first time in university history.

With an enrollment of 4,729 students after the first week of classes this fall, Lipscomb University has broken numerous records, including the number of first-time freshmen and new graduate students. The enrollment number will increase in the next few weeks as cohorts in several graduate programs begin classes later in the semester. University classes began Aug. 24.

The previous enrollment record was set in fall 2015 with 4,686 students.

Adding to the enrollment growth this semester are several all-time university records:

• 816 new graduate students

• 694 first-time freshmen

• 354 veterans and dependents

• 154 graduate psychology, counseling and marriage & family counseling students

• 136 doctorate of education students

• 124 School of Physician Assistant Studies students, which enrolled its third cohort of students this fall.

In addition, the university is celebrating retention growth with an 87% first-time freshman retention rate, an increase of 4%, and an 85% transfer retention rate, an increase of 9%, compared to this time period last fall.

Sarah Cannon announces partnership

Sarah Cannon, the Nashville-based Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, and Lyell Immunopharma will collaborate on the advancement of oncology-focused immune-effector, or T-Cell, therapies.

This partnership brings together Lyell’s research and development of cell-based immunotherapies and Sarah Cannon’s expertise in designing and optimizing clinical trials to expand treatment options and access for patients.

Sarah Cannon is one of the world’s leading clinical research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials throughout the United States and United Kingdom.

Change Healthcare buys PROMETHEUS

Nashville’s Change Healthcare has acquired PROMETHEUS Analytics from Altarum. PROMETHEUS Analytics is a leading reimbursement approach based on medical episodes of care, used by payer-provider collaborations nationwide, uniquely providing a fair and realistic blueprint for value-based payments.

Change Healthcare has a successful history of working with PROMETHEUS Analytics and was one of the first certified partners of the Analytics model supporting some of the nation’s largest health plans with their value-based payment programs.

This transaction supports Change Healthcare’s commitment to focus on and invest in core aspects of the business to fuel long-term growth, advance innovation and accelerate the industry’s transition to value-based care.

Healthcare organizations use PROMETHEUS Analytics to optimize their provider networks under value-based care reimbursement models. They create unique analytic insights that help improve provider performance and provide consumers more value from their health care experience.

Logo Brands wins contract with Gators

Logo Brands, based in Franklin, has entered into a multiyear exclusive agreement with the University of Florida.

Florida is the 18th school to sign exclusively with Logo Brands to produce branded tailgate gear for fans. The other universities are: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Connecticut (UConn), Fresno State, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Washington and Wisconsin.

The pact is effective immediately and grants Logo Brands exclusive rights to manufacture, produce and distribute University of Florida Gators tailgate and outdoor lifestyle products across multiple retail channels. The product categories in the agreement include chairs, tents, tables, coolers and tote bags.

CereCore earns ClearlyRated honor

Nashville’s CereCore, an information technology services provider, has won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards.

Presented by CareerBuilder, Indeed and Glassdoor, ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and candidates.

On average, clients of winning agencies are 3.3 times more likely to be completely satisfied and candidates who have been placed by winning agencies are 1.7 times more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies.

Client satisfaction: CereCore rated a 4.9 out of 5 stars. Over 87% of their clients scored their service 9 or 10 out of 10, which is significantly higher than the industry’s average of 24%.

Covenant Physician Partners expand

Nashville-based Covenant Physician Partners has partnered with three new practice locations in California and Hawaii.

Two locations in Southern California will join Covenant under the company’s partnership with De La Peña Eye Clinic; a third location in Hilo, Hawaii, expands the presence and capabilities of Covenant partner The Endoscopy Center.

“Given the volatility and adversities in health care over the last six months, we are incredibly proud to see these new partnerships come to fruition and expand our capabilities in southern California and Hawaii,” says Lew Little, Jr., president and chief executive officer at Covenant.

“Our long-term strategy is to strengthen and enhance what is working in markets we already serve. These additional locations allow us to continue providing a full spectrum of care for patients and fulfill on that promise to better serve our local communities.”

Cryoport to buy MVE Biological Solutions

Nashville-based Cryoport has agreed to acquire MVE Biological Solutions from Chart Industries.

Cryoport is a temperature-controlled supply chain solutions company for the life sciences industry. MVE manufactures vacuum insulated products and cryogenic freezer systems for the life sciences.

Cryoport expects to broaden its footprint of solutions and services with focus on the fast-growing cell and gene market.

With the acquisitions of MVE, CryoPDP and Cryogene, Cryoport will provide fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions to cell and gene therapy clients as well as the broader life sciences industry.

Under the agreement, Cryoport will acquire MVE in an all cash transaction valued at $320 million. Closing is expected by the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, MVE’s revenue for 2019 was approximately $83.7 million.

Joseph Luxury Collection hotel opens

The Joseph, a 21-story Luxury Collection hotel, is now open in Nashville’s SoBro district.

The Joseph brand was conceptualized by The Pizzuti Companies – a development, marketing and managing real estate for nearly 50 years.

The Joseph features contemporary design by Miami-based Arquitectonica and more than 1,000 pieces from The Pizzuti Collection. James Beard Award winner and Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano and his wife Cathy, a wine expert, are the food and beverage partners for the hotel.

The signature restaurant is Yolan, which a cheese cave, a special area reserved for the its many varieties.

Qualifacts, Credible involved in merger deal

Warburg Pincus and Martis Capital have agreed to merge their respective portfolio companies, Nashville-based Qualifacts and Credible Behavioral Health of Rockville, Maryland.

The combination of these technology companies will elevate the experience of behavioral health and human service providers while positioning the combined company for continued innovation and thought leadership in the market.

The company will be led by David Klements, CEO of Qualifacts. Matthew Dorman, CEO of Credible, will continue as a strategic adviser to the company.

Combined, the company serves more than 800 behavioral health agencies nationwide, significantly increasing the scale and scope of its products and capabilities.

Jurny enters Nashville market

Jurny, Inc., a hospitality tech company offering SaaS-based management solutions, has added a Nashville location.

The company now operates more than 270 hotel and short-term rental units across five markets, with more than 2,500 additional units in the pipeline.

In Nashville, the company finalized an agreement to operate the high-end boutique 121 Hotel. As part of the agreements, every unit under Jurny management is assessed by data-driven analytics to reduce redundancies and upgraded with smart home technology.

Guests can book the units and manage their entire stay through the Jurny app, with access to single-touch check-in and checkout, 24/7 virtual customer support, keyless entry, temperature control, Wi-Fi connection and on-demand cleaning services that follow a 150-point CDC-compliant checklist.

My House Clinic to open in Nashville

Nashville Cares in partnership with Knoxville-based Positively Living & Choice Health Network is opening My House Clinic, an inclusive “one-stop center” for medical and supportive services in Nashville.

My House Clinic will deliver medical and supportive services on a full continuum of care under one roof and will feature the moniker of PRIDE: “Promotes Respect Inclusion & Dignity for Everyone.”

Nashville CARES is Tennessee’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization and annually serves more than 50,000 Middle Tennesseans.

The clinic will provide confidential testing, counseling services and pre-exposure prophylaxis and prescriptions for individuals at high-risk for exposure to HIV. The medical clinic also will provide primary care, COVID-19 and other disease testing, treatment and prevention with a focus on sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis C virus and HIV care.

“My House is creating access to culturally competent primary and HIV care for the LGBTQ+ community and the community at large, at a time when Nashville certainly needs this expanded access,” says Dr. Christopher Ott, chief medical officer for HCA Healthcare’s Physician Services Group and board chair for Nashville CARES says.