Meharry Medical College logo

Meharry Medical College

Nashville, TN

private nonprofitHBCUgraduate

Quick Facts

Wikipedia
1876
Founded
Private historically black medical school
Type
956
Total Students
$194M
Endowment
(2024)
Special Focus Four-Year
Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Meharry Medical College

Pioneering health equity since 1876, empowering diverse healthcare leaders.

Meharry Medical College stands as a beacon of health equity and pioneering medical education in the United States. Founded in 1876 in Nashville, Tennessee, it holds the distinction of being the first medical school for African Americans in the South and has grown to become the largest private historically black institution solely dedicated to educating health care professionals and scientists. Rooted in a profound commitment to service, Meharry's legacy is built on the vision of its founders to address critical healthcare shortages and provide opportunities for Black Americans excluded from mainstream institutions. Its enduring affiliation with the United Methodist Church underscores its mission of "Worship of God through Service to Mankind."

Prospective students seeking rigorous, purpose-driven education will find Meharry a transformative environment. The college offers a comprehensive array of programs, including Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.), Master of Health Science (M.H.S.), and Ph.D. degrees across its Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Applied Computational Sciences, and Global Health. Meharry is renowned as the second-largest educator of African-American medical doctors and dentists in the nation, and boasts the highest percentage of African Americans graduating with Ph.Ds in biomedical sciences. This academic excellence is consistently geared towards recognizing and addressing health disparities.

At Meharry, the student experience is deeply intertwined with its mission of community service. An impressive 76% of its graduates dedicate their careers to serving underserved communities, embodying the college's core values. Students gain invaluable clinical experience through partnerships with leading healthcare providers like Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and Detroit Medical Center, alongside its historical ties to Nashville General Hospital. The college fosters an environment where future leaders are trained not just in medical and scientific practice, but also in advocating for equitable health outcomes for all populations. Recent landmark donations from philanthropists like Michael Bloomberg and MacKenzie Scott further bolster the institution, supporting student debt reduction and strengthening its endowment, ensuring its continued impact for generations to come.

Key Highlights

  • ✦Founded in 1876, it was the first medical school for African Americans in the South.
  • ✦The largest private historically black institution in the U.S. dedicated to educating health care professionals and scientists.
  • ✦Second-largest educator of African-American medical doctors and dentists nationwide.
  • ✦Boasts the highest percentage of African Americans graduating with Ph.Ds in the biomedical sciences.
  • ✦An impressive 76% of graduates work as doctors treating people in underserved communities.
  • ✦Offers Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.), Master of Health Science (M.H.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.
  • ✦Received a $175 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2024 for its endowment, alongside other major donations including $34 million from Michael Bloomberg (2020) and $20 million from MacKenzie Scott (2022).

Timeline

1876
Founded as the Medical Department of Central Tennessee College, becoming the first medical school for African Americans in the South.
1886
The Dental Department was founded.
1915
Chartered separately as Meharry Medical College, operating independently.
1923
Regained its 'grade-A institution' rating by the American Medical Association.
1938
The School of Graduate Studies and Research was founded.
1968
The Matthew Walker Health Center was created and a Ph.D. degree in basic sciences was added.
1982
An M.D./Ph.D. program was established.
2020
Philanthropist Michael Bloomberg donated $34 million to help lower student debt, the largest gift in Meharry's history at the time.
2024
Received a $175 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support the school's endowment.
🏛️
150 Years
of Excellence

Schools & Colleges

5 notable schools within Meharry Medical College

🏥

School of Medicine

🏫

School of Dentistry

🎓

School of Graduate Studies

🔬

School of Applied Computational Sciences

🏫

School of Global Health

Find Scholarships at Meharry Medical College

Sign up free to discover grants and scholarships you qualify for at this school and thousands more.

Start Your Free Search