Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine Partner with University of Zambia to Enhance Global Health Education and Research

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 11, 2018 -- Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s largest historically black academic health science and research centers, and Morehouse School of Medicine, a highly accredited, Georgia-based health care institution, today announced that they have formed a partnership with the University of Zambia to develop an international exchange program focused on disease research and prevention.

The three institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop the partnership through which students and faculty at the graduate and doctorate levels will participate in an exchange program centered on seven core areas of health science, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, HPV, late-onset diabetes, hypertension, infectious disease, and malnutrition. The exchange program will begin in the fall of 2018.

“This partnership is very exciting and important for Meharry,” said Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College. “The opportunity to work in collaboration with the University of Zambia and Morehouse expands the academic, clinical and research horizons of our students and faculty to a foreign continent, culture and people. In today’s global society, Meharry’s mission is no longer contained to borders or city limits. We must serve the underserved wherever they live in the world and this partnership is an important step forward in that direction.”

“We are thrilled to have formed this partnership with the University of Zambia alongside Meharry Medical College,” said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and Dean of Morehouse. “This agreement between three like-minded organizations promises to accelerate treatment and care options for AIDS, diabetes, cancer and other disease states that plague the people of America and Africa. By collaborating more closely we can impact more fully the lives of the people we serve.”

The agreement is an outgrowth of a 2015 partnership between Meharry and Morehouse, both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), which focused on AIDS education and training in the Southeastern United States. The two colleges had longstanding links to the University of Zambia since Dr. Hildreth and Dr. Montgomery Rice visited 10 years ago when they were both members of the faculty at Meharry. There they met Dr. Esther M. Nkandu, Dean of the University of Zambia’s School of Health Sciences, with whom they recently forged the three-way partnership.

“The opportunity to integrate the educational and research expertise of both Meharry Medical College and Morehouse School of Medicine with that of the University of Zambia is quite historic,” said Prof Luke Mumba, Vice Chancellor, University of Zambia. “The three institutions are working in our separate communities to address some of the world’s most vexing health problems, from AIDS to cancer. It is exciting to imagine how much stronger we will be now that we are working more closely on these issues together.”

About Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church related institution. The college is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Meharry is a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.

About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. In 2011, MSM was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation's No. 1 medical school in fulfilling a social mission. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care.

Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit www.msm.edu or call 404-752-1500.

About University of Zambia
Established in 1966, two years after independence, the University of Zambia (UNZA) was the first University in Zambia. Today, (UNZA) is the nation’s leading provider of higher education in the Country offering over 160 programs including the Bachelor’s, Master's and PhD.
A public University, the University of Zambia now has over 27,000 students studying across thirteen Schools. UNZA graduates, on average, 5,000 students and has over 40,000 alumni helping to create sustainable success in both the profit and the not for profit sector.

Contact: Paige Chipouras
Ph: (615)-610-0315
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