NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Meharry Medical College, a historically Black medical school in Nashville, has received the largest donation in its nearly 150-year school history.
The college was awarded $175 million from philanthropist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's organization "Bloomberg Philanthropies", officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 6.
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According to the medical school, the donation is believed to be the largest in Meharry’s history and will help diversify the medical field and train the next generation of doctors.
“Today is a momentous day for Meharry Medical College, elevating and accelerating our mission to serve the underserved of our nation and world,” said Meharry Medical College President and CEO Dr. James E.K. Hildreth. “Meharry holds a distinct place in the health care infrastructure as the oldest and largest independent historically Black academic health sciences center in the nation. For nearly 150 years, Meharrians have committed their lives to eliminating disparities and improving health equity, often in the face of significant discrimination, injustice and adversity. This historic investment by Bloomberg Philanthropies is a testament to Meharry’s legacy and to the promise of Meharrians to transform the future of health care for the betterment of all.”
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The $175 million donation is reportedly part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' $600M investment that goes toward historically Black medical schools. In addition to Meharry, officials said Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine also received donations.
Bloomberg Philanthropies said the funding is part of their Greenwood Initiative, which "seeks to advance racial wealth equity by addressing systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities."
“We have much more to do to build a country where every person, regardless of race, has equal access to quality health care – and where students of all backgrounds have an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Bloomberg. “Diversifying the medical field and tackling health inequality are society-wide challenges, and Bloomberg Philanthropies is committed to helping to lead the way in tackling them. This gift builds on our earlier investment in these vital institutions, and it will help new generations of Black doctors build a healthier and more equitable future for our country.”
Meharry Medical College was founded in 1876 and includes five schools: the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Graduate Studies, the School of Applied Computational Sciences and the School of Global Health.
This is not the first major donation the medical school has received from Bloomberg Philanthropies. According to Meharry, the organization made a $34 million investment to the medical school in 2020.