The Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute at Tennessee State University, a historically Black educational institution in Nashville, has recently established a new partnership with Belmont University in Nashville to create an accelerated pathway for undergraduate students at the HBCU to earn a medical degree.
The Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Medical Accelerated Pathway Program will give eligible students in TSU’s College of Life and Physical Sciences the opportunity to enroll at the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University. Students who participate in the program will earn a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry from TSU in just three years before matriculating into the medical degree program at Belmont. This seven-year pathway reduces the traditional timeline to earn a medical doctorate by one year.
Additionally, the two partnering institutions will collaborate on several support services aimed at ensuring students’ educational success. These initiatives include a week-long familiarization program with both universities, clinical shadowing experiences, research opportunities through the Belmont Data Collaborative, and preparation support for the Medical College Admission Test.
“Our students will benefit greatly from this partnership, gaining invaluable resources, mentorship and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for successful careers in medicine,” said Barbara Murrell, chair of the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute. “We look forward to building on this collaboration and creating more opportunities for future health care leaders.”
