Historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and the University of Memphis today announced a new multi-level collaboration to expand opportunities for education, training, and research for Black medical students and the communities they serve in West Tennessee and throughout the state.
Specifically, the institutions will collaborate to:
- Provide essential health care and services for area underserved and minority populations.
- Establish new clinical training opportunities and clerkships for Meharry and University of Memphis students and residents at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
- Train a diverse health care workforce and strengthen the pipeline of well-trained medical professionals who will go on to serve rural and underserved urban areas.
- Provide University of Memphis students with direct and preferred access to postgraduate medical and biomedical sciences programs at Meharry.
- Develop opportunities for research collaboration between Meharry, Methodist, and the University of Memphis to advance discovery in the treatment of disease and improve the effectiveness of community-based services.
“We are delighted for this historic opportunity to work alongside these legacy institutions in the Memphis region to provide meaningful experiences for our students and care for those who need it most,” said James E.K. Hildreth Sr., president of Meharry Medical College. “There is a critical need throughout our country for a pipeline of Black talent within medicine. Now more than ever, the Black community needs greater access to preventive care and to providers they trust. This partnership with Methodist and the University of Memphis will support our ongoing efforts to diversify students’ training and educational experiences so they are fully prepared to serve.”