Fayetteville State University (FSU), the oldestpublic historically Black college and university (HBCU) in North Carolina, andMeharry Medical College (MMC), one of the nation’s oldest andlargest historically Black academic health science centers located inNashville, Tenn., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today that willaddress the need for providing quality medical care and skilled healthcare professionals for this region of the state. The virtual signing was heldat 11 a.m. EDT, in the Rudolph Jones Student Center on the FSU Campus and atMMC in Nashville, Tenn.
The MOU signing ceremony includedFSU Interim Chancellor Peggy Valentine, Dr. James E.K. Hildreth Sr., president andCEO of MMC; Dr. Lee Brown, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs atFSU; Dr. Afua Arhin, Interim Dean of Health, Science and Technology at FSU; Dr. Digna S. Forbes, Interim Dean of the MMC Schoolof Medicine; and Dr. Cherae Farmer-Dixon, Dean of MMC School of Dentistry.
Guests included membersof both institutions’ board of trustees, members of the University of NorthCarolina Board of Governors, local and state government officials, faculty andadministrators from FSU and MMC, and students.
“We applaud Fayetteville StateUniversity for taking this important step in educating and training a newgeneration of physicians and dentists for the communities they serve,” saidMeharry President and CEO James E.K. Hildreth Sr., Ph.D., M.D. “Workingwith FSU to prepare health care providers who will return to serve those inrural Southeastern North Carolina is enormously important to the state, theregion and the nation.” The Memorandum of Understanding between Meharry and FSUis only the start of improving the quality of life for individuals and familiesliving in this part of North Carolina, Hildreth said.
The partnership between FSUand MMC will address the medical needs for this region by doing the following:
- Establishing and implementing a 3-plus-3-plus-3program (three years for pre-med from FSU, three years of medical school atMeharry, and three years residency in Cumberland County)
- Establishing and implementing a pre-dentaltrack for students interested in dentistry.
- Establishing and implementing a ruraltraining track residency training program in the southeast region of NorthCarolina
“We are so pleased to beentering into this partnership with Meharry Medical College,” said FSU InterimChancellor Dr. Peggy Valentine. “Working with an institution of Meharry’s caliberto produce highly qualified medical professionals will be mutually beneficialnot only to FSU, but also to the people of Cumberland County. We know that this part of the state needsmore physicians and dentists of color to serve residents who aredisproportionately affected by health disparities. FSU is glad to be doing its part in addressingthis critical need.”
AboutFayetteville State University
FayettevilleState University is a constituent institution of The University of NorthCarolina System and the second-oldest institution of higher education in thestate, having been founded in 1867. FSU is a historically Black universityoffering degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. With morethan 6,700 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverseinstitutions in the nation. To learn more about Fayetteville State University,visit www.uncfsu.edu.
AboutMeharry Medical College
MeharryMedical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independenthistorically Black academic health sciences center dedicated to educatingminority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a UnitedMethodist Church related institution. The college is particularly well knownfor its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emergingpreeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive,evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity ofthe nation’s health professions workforce. Meharry is a leading nationaleducator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees inthe biomedical sciences.
For moreinformation, call 910-672-1474 or email: [email protected].