wfn.org | Meharry Medical College forms alliance with Vanderbilt

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Jan. 14, 1999	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-31-71B{027}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)--United Methodist-related Meharry Medical College
has joined forces with Vanderbilt University Medical Center to enhance
educational programs and clinical services.

The 124-year-old historically black professional school announced Jan. 13
that it had established a five-year formal alliance with Vanderbilt  to
improve physician education, research and patient care. 

The alliance of the two Nashville schools will become effective this spring,
when Vanderbilt assumes management of Metro General Hospital, the medical
institution Meharry has used as part of its physician training program since
1993. The hospital is on the Meharry campus, and the school will continue to
staff it as part of the agreement.

The alliance is not a merger and will be subject to review after five years.
Each school will maintain its independence and unique mission.

Founded in 1876, the historically black academic health center has been a
leading producer of African-American doctors and dentists. Today, it is also
one of the leading producers of African-Americans who have doctorate degrees
in biomedical sciences. The college is recognized for its emphasis on the
special primary health care needs of minorities, the poor and disadvantaged
of America.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a leading provider of medical
education, research and patient care. The school is recognized as being in
the forefront of biomedical research, and its faculty has been awarded the
Nobel Prize for Medicine twice.

Through the partnership, Meharry will have access to Vanderbilt's medical
and surgical specialists. Vanderbilt will have access to Meharry's already
established programs in primary and family medicine and a more diverse
patient population. Both institutions also will join in collaborative
efforts for undergraduate and graduate medical education, research and
training, library services and enhanced faculty and student interaction.

"This alliance joins two distinguished academic health centers in a
strategic synergistic partnership that will surely set the standard for
cooperative efforts by other institutions nationwide," said John E. Maupin
Jr., president of Meharry. "We began all this through open and frank
discussions about our historical differences, our unique challenges and our
recent successes."

The announcement of the partnership caused some concern among students and
others in the community about Meharry's identity possibly being diminished
by the larger Vanderbilt.

Those expressing concern included the Rev. Joreatha Capers, director of the
Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns of the Division of Higher Education
of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The alliance
"appears to be a progressive move," she said, but it is "my prayer that
Meharry's mission of serving the under served would not be diluted." 

The two institutions will seek to develop innovative approaches to medical
education, address health care delivery challenges, capitalize on existing
positive relations between each institution, enhance diversity at each
school and have a positive effect on the Nashville community.

"We found that we had a lot of common interests, and that we were inhibited
only by the limits of our vision and our investment in old, outmoded rules
of order," Maupin said. "We decided we could work together, and in the
process, strengthen our education, research and health care delivery. In an
increasingly competitive marketplace, this alliance just makes sense." 

Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for health affairs at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, said the alliance will help the school's
"commitment to the indigent and under served in this community." The two
institutions have every reason to collaborate at all levels of academic,
research and health service activities, he said. 

"Vanderbilt also needs to improve its diversity in its faculty, house staff
and students," Jacobson said. "We have a commitment to do that, and this
alliance will help us in that goal."

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