Meharry Medical College Gifted $34M To Raise Rate Of Black Doctors

Meharry Medical College, located in Nashville, Tennessee, has received a $34 million gift to help increase the number of Black doctors across the nation, and help medical students pay off student loan debt.

The college's President and CEO Dr. James Hildreth announced on Thursday (September 2) that the donation came from Bloomberg Philanthropies to increase the number of Black doctors in the United States. The foundation hopes to reduce their financial debt and to help improve the health disparities among minority communities nationwide.

Meharry is one of four historically Black college and university medical schools to get a portion of a $100 million donation, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies.

This is the largest donation in the college’s history.

“This is a momentous day for Meharry Medical College, our students and the people we serve,” said Hildreth. “We could not be more honored to receive this gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies or more excited about what it means for the future of minority health care for generations to come.”

Dr. Hildreth said the donation makes it possible for currently enrolled medical students to be eligible for a scholarship up to $100,000. The grant also covers “wrap around” services, like financial counseling for students and resources to track the program’s success.

"This gift says to the nation very loudly and very clearly that Black health care matters," said Hildreth.

According to Meharry, only 5% of practicing physicians in the U.S. are Black, and data shows that Black patients have better outcomes when treated by Black doctors.

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