Written By Lexx Thomas
Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically Black academic health sciences center dedicated solely to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church-related institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services, and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.
For nearly 150 years, Meharry has trained doctors, dentists, and researchers dedicated to providing access to healthcare for all. This dedication has led to Meharry becoming one of the nation’s leading producers of Black primary care physicians and dentists. Meharry’s mission-first approach has led to a significant influx of philanthropic gifts and corporate investments from a range of funders.
William Harrison Frist is an American physician, businessman, conservationist, and policymaker who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1995 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as Senate Majority Leader from 2003 to 2007.
Meharry Medical College announced that it has received a lead gift to establish “Senator Bill and Tracy Frist Endowment for Planetary and Human Health.” The gift from Sen. Bill Frist and Tracy Frist will provide an annual scholarship to a Meharry student in support of research on innovative solutions to the interconnected challenges facing planetary health, climate action, and human health.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sen. and Mrs. Frist for their financial investment not only in the Meharry community but in the health of our planet,” said James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D., CEO and president of Meharry. “By establishing an endowed fund, the Frists ensure that research on the connection between planetary and human health continues in perpetuity. I applaud them for boldly safeguarding research at Meharry, and I encourage others to join them.”
Students across Meharry’s five schools – Medicine, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Applied Computational Sciences, and Global Health – will have the opportunity to submit a research project that examines the intersection of planetary and human health and proposes solutions to the critical issues facing communities impacted by climate change. Each year, the selected Meharrian will be named the Frist Scholar for Planetary and Human Health (“Frist Scholar”) and join an exclusive society dedicated to the study of planetary and human health.
