2024
YEAR IN REVIEW
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG President & CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: Audacious Partnerships
National Medical Association
Bloomberg Philanthropies
AAMC
SECTION 2: Audacious Students
Match Day
May Commencement
Convocation
Student Snapshots
SECTION 3: Audacious Conversations
Danforth Dialogues
Government Visits
SECTION 4: Audacious Service
Employee Appreciation Day
Community Engagement Day
Men’s Heart Healthy Breakfast
Women’s Heart Healthy Luncheon
Hugh M. Gloster Celebration
SECTION 5: Thank You
President and CEO’s Letter
Dear Morehouse School of Medicine Family and Friends,
As we step into the new year and mark the beginning of our 50th anniversary, we pause to reflect on our profound privilege and responsibility as integral members of the community we serve. At Morehouse School of Medicine, our commitment to leading the creation and advancement of health equity is more than a mission statement—it is a deep-seated pledge to achieve health justice.
The past year has underscored the formidable power of unity and collective action. We’ve witnessed firsthand how our collaborative efforts can surmount any obstacle. The bonds that unite us have strengthened, fueling our determination to effect meaningful change.
In challenging times, the dedication and resilience of our faculty and staff have shone brightly. Your tireless efforts to provide top-notch education, groundbreaking research, and compassionate healthcare services are truly inspiring. You embody the spirit of our community, and for that, we are immensely grateful.
To our entire MSM community, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support. Your trust and dedication have propelled us toward significant achievements in health equity and justice. Together, we have woven a tapestry of compassion, empathy, and understanding that inspires us daily.
As we celebrate the start of a new year and the milestone of our 50th anniversary, let us reaffirm our commitment to our collective mission. Let’s continue to integrate our efforts into the fabric of our community, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health equity. United, we can forge a future where health justice is a reality for all.
On behalf of the entire Morehouse School of Medicine community, I extend my warmest wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling new year. Thank you for your steadfast commitment, and I look forward to the continued success and growth we will achieve together.
All the best,
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG President and CEO Morehouse School of Medicine
Audacious Partnerships
Introduction
Our students are the living embodiment of Morehouse School of Medicine’s founding vision—to diversify the medical field and serve communities that need us most. They come to us with passion, purpose and an audacious drive to create a healthier, more equitable world. Each one represents a beacon of hope, resilience, and excellence, carrying forward the legacy of our founders through their commitment to service, scholarship and leadership.
We are deeply grateful for the way our students challenge the status quo and step boldly into the call to heal, advocate and innovate. Their journeys inspire us to keep pushing boundaries and to remain steadfast in our mission of achieving health equity.
National Medical Association (NMA) Conference
In August, Morehouse School of Medicine had a strong presence at the 2024 National Medical Association (NMA) Convention in New York City. MSM leaders, faculty, students and alumni presented throughout the nation’s premier forum on medical science and Black health. Planning is already underway for the 2025 NMA Convention in Chicago.
We’re woven into the very fabric of the community we serve.
Bloomberg Philanthropies
August 2024 marked a historic milestone for MSM with a $175 million endowment gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative—the largest donation ever to a single HBCU and the largest in MSM’s nearly 50-year history. This transformational investment is part of a $600 million commitment to support the nation’s four historically Black medical schools and Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine in New Orleans.
We have witnessed the power of unity and the strength of collective action.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Atlanta hosted the 2024 AAMC Learn Serve Lead Annual Meeting. On November 10, MSM Executive VP and Dean Dr. J. Adrian Tyndall co-hosted the Dean’s Executive Reception with Emory’s Dr. Sandra Wong at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. This exclusive event brought academic leaders and clinicians together to discuss best practices, health equity and the future of academic medicine.
When we come together, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way.
Audacious Students
Match Day
On March 15, MSM celebrated Match Day 2024, a pivotal milestone for fourth-year MD students. Of the 73 participants, 95% secured residency placements, with 88% matching their first or only choice. About half will complete their residencies in Georgia, including 15% at MSM programs.
May Commencement
MSM conferred 131 doctorate and master’s degrees in medicine, public health and biomedical sciences at the 40th Commencement on May 18. Held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel, where MSM was founded, the ceremony featured keynote speaker Anthony “Tony” Welters, CEO of CINQCARE and MSM Trustee Emeritus.
The threads that bind us as a community have become stronger.
The past year has underscored the formidable power of unity and collective action.
Convocation
On September 20, MSM welcomed 332 new students at the 40th Fall Convocation and White Coat Ceremony. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra delivered an inspiring keynote, marking the start of the academic year and celebrating students’ commitment to their journeys in health and service.
Student Snapshots
Our students are at the heart of MSM’s mission. Their pursuit of excellence and dedication to creating a healthier future inspire us daily.
Let us remember the power of our collective impact.
Audacious Conversations
Danforth Dialogues
MSM’s leadership series focused on a range of topics connecting our community to experiences during the pandemic and then taking those experiences and relating them to a broader set of leadership lessons.
Leadership begins with empathy and the belief that everyone deserves to thrive.
—Dr.
Creshema Murray, VP & Chief of Staff
We have witnessed the unwavering dedication and resilience of our faculty and staff.
Government Visits
In September, MSM participated in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. I joined First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Dr. Chelsea Clinton in a fireside chat to discuss reducing barriers to women’s health and advancing health equity. Throughout the year, I visited the Georgia State Capitol and U.S. Capitol to advocate for closing healthcare gaps with state and federal leaders.
Audacious Service
Employee Recognition
Day
On June 27, MSM honored the dedication of its employees during the Annual Employee Recognition Celebration, recognizing team members who reached milestones from 5 to 45 years of service. The outdoor event was filled with music, food and festive activities, celebrating the joy and pride of the MSM community.
Our community created a tapestry of compassion, empathy and understanding.
Community Engagement Day
10TH ANNIVERSARY
On October 5, MSM hosted its 10th Community Engagement Day, themed “A New Day for Health, Equity, and Justice.” Held at Antioch Urban Ministries, the event featured 120 vendors, free health screenings by the H.E.A.L. Clinic, flu shots, entertainment and wellness resources for all ages.
Men’s Heart Healthy Breakfast
On February 6, MSM kicked off Heart Healthy Week with the Men’s Heart Healthy Breakfast at the Georgia Aquarium. Dr. Herman Taylor moderated a panel with Dr. Marcus Brown, Dr. Ameen Person, and patient Ernest Hines, who shared his journey to better heart health.
We have truly exemplified what it means to be woven into the fabric of our community.
Women With Heart Luncheon
First Lady Jill Biden delivered the keynote address at the soldout Women with Heart Luncheon on February 7. The event celebrated 15 years of the Women with Heart initiative, which raises scholarship funds, promotes healthy living and increases awareness of cardiovascular disease in women.
Let’s continue to weave our efforts into our community, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health equity.
Hugh M. Gloster Celebration
On April 18, MSM held its 14th Annual Hugh M. Gloster Society Celebration, raising $1.2 million for student scholarships in 2024 alone. This signature event honors leaders in healthcare and showcases MSM’s innovations in education, research and clinical care. Since 2015, the celebration has raised over $10.5 million to support MSM’s mission.
Thank You!
50 Years of Shaping the Future of Health Equity
Signature Events
Throughout 2025, MSM will host several signature events. During the 50th, these gatherings are sure to excite and inspire; and will include the Gloster Society Celebration Dinner, Women With Heart, the Men’s Heart Healthy Breakfast, MSM Golf Tournament and the MSM Cycling Event. These premier events raise much needed support for scholarships and wraparound services, making an MSM education more accessible for many of our students.
We invite you to join us on a yearlong journey of events that honor our legacy and spotlight our ambitious future.