The James Puckette Carter Scholars Program, the result of a partnership between Meharry Medical College (MMC), Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), intended to increase the number of physicians who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in health care, is expanding to double its enrollment capacity.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Tennessee is rising. In the 13 counties that comprise the Nashville Metropolitan Area, new cases have increased 50% over the last 2 weeks. We strongly urge everyone in Middle Tennessee, and all Tennesseans, to remain vigilant in their efforts to limit the spread of the virus by wearing masks, washing hands and staying socially distant — including not participating in large gatherings.

An innovative program to support Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty facing substantial caregiving challenges in their personal lives, the Partnership in Actively Retaining Talented Early-career Researchers, or Doris Duke PARTNERS, will receive a $528,000, three-year grant renewal from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Portia Thomas grew up in Doerun, Georgia, a small, rural city named by pioneer hunters as a place with “a perfect doe run,” where the population has hovered around 800 people for the past 30 years. A childhood impression lifted her aspirations beyond her hometown and inspired her to pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed its support of the Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), a four-way partnership between Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Meharry Medical College, the Tennessee Department of Health and Nashville CARES.

The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) Medical Scholars Research Symposium was held Feb. 3 and highlighted the work of eight medical students who spent the 2018-2019 academic year immersed in research under the guidance of faculty mentors.

The inaugural SCRIPS symposium — Supporting Careers in Research for Interventional Physicians and Surgeons — will be held from 1-4 p.m. March 21 in 202 Light Hall.