Meharry Medical College Archives

HBCU scholars program expanding enrollment

Mar. 11, 2021—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.

Andrea Birch, MD, credits her family and other mentors for helping pave the way for her career in medicine.

Variety of influences helped shape Birch’s medical career

Oct. 22, 2020—Andrea Birch was 9 years old and on top of the world. Her visiting cousin had challenged her to a tree-climbing contest, and, as a competitive kid always up for a challenge, she had outclimbed him. She was looking down at him from her lofty perch and, as she recalls, “goading him from the top.

Ascension St. Thomas, Tristar Health, Meharry Medical College/Nashville General Hospital, Vanderbilt Health issue joint statement on COVID-19

Oct. 20, 2020—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.

Program helps researchers deal with personal challenges

Oct. 8, 2020—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.

A childhood role model helped inspire Portia Thomas to pursue a career in medicine and research.

Diversity role model inspires career path

Oct. 1, 2020—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.

Winkfield to direct Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance

Sep. 3, 2020—Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, associate professor of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest University, associate director for Community Outreach and Engagement, and director of the Office of Cancer Health Equity at Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named the new executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance.

Center for AIDS Research lands NIH grant renewal

May. 7, 2020—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.

Medical students’ research highlighted at symposium

Feb. 6, 2020—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.