Meharry Medical College in Nashville has announced the appointment of Sonja Harris-Haywood as dean of the School of Medicine. Founded 147 years ago, Meharry Medical College currently graduates more than 100 physicians each year, the majority of which move on to urban and rural communities to treat minority populations and those who lack access to quality care.
“Dr. Harris-Haywood’s achievements in multidisciplinary clinical research and curriculum, as well as her emphasis on teaching basic science from a clinical perspective, make her the perfect dean for our ever-evolving medical school,” said James E.K. Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry Medical College. “For nearly 150 years, Meharry has been committed to creating a more diverse healthcare workforce and developing the next generation of providers who will serve underserved and minority populations. Dr. Harris-Haywood will work with her skilled faculty and Meharry leadership to create and fulfill a vision for educational success that will further Meharry’s work around the world.”
Dr. Harris-Haywood comes to Meharry from Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine (NEOMED), where she served as associate dean of curriculum integration and one of the key leaders that drove the transformation, implementation, and assessment of a new medical school curriculum that integrated medical and clinical sciences. Earlier, she served as senior associate dean and the director of its Partnership for Urban Health and Primary Care at NEOMED.
“The mission of Meharry captures everything I’ve worked toward throughout my career,” said Dr. Harris-Haywood. “The college is unmatched in its commitment to ensuring that our nation’s underserved communities have access to the health care services and support they need. I’m honored to now be a part of Meharry’s rich legacy by leading and creating new educational experiences and opportunities for the next generation of providers who will serve underserved and minority communities.”
A graduate of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, Dr. Harris-Haywood earned a master’s degree in science education from New York University in 1992, and a master’s degree in clinical investigation from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She received her medical degree from New Jersey Medical School.
