AU D A C I O U S MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
AU D A C I O U S
GROW TH
RESEARCH
KNOWLEDGE
MEDICINE
CARE
T R E AT M E N T S
STUDENTS
DREAMS
FA C U LT Y
AT L A N TA
E X PA N S I O N
VISION
DIVERSIT Y
C U LT U R E
PLANS
PROMISE
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MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
AU D A C I O U S To be brave, daring, original, courageous, adventurous, undaunted.
Others may choose the safe, well-trodden path. But those who are audacious know that fortune favors the bold. And that opportunities await those who blaze new trails.
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To see the future and embrace the possibilities. To be fearless in the face of the unknown. To chart a new course with confidence and vision. To dare to dream — and to make those dreams reality.
We are Morehouse School of Medicine. And we work, live and care audaciously.
Leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice.
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ANNUAL REPORT
2023 Leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice
Our core values guide organizational behavior and shape Morehouse School of Medicine’s future. Excellence: Achieving the highest level of performance in all endeavors. Service: Treating all people and communities with respect, compassion and empathy. Knowledge: Sharing our ideas, discoveries, methods and skills to advance health equity. Wisdom: Valuing the knowledge and
6 Letter from the President & CEO
experience of all individuals. Integrity:
8 Message from the Dean and EVP of Health Affairs
Upholding the highest standards of ethical
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behavior, transparency and accountability.
14 The Strategic Plan
Innovation: Creating inspired solutions in
18 Morehouse Healthcare 22 David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute 27 Education
science, service and education. Justice: Enabling conditions, contexts and systems to make equity and optimal health possible.
34 Innovation 38 Capital 41 A Year Like No Other 44 Expanding our Global Impact 48 In the News 52 Research 54 IMPACT letter 55 Spotlight: Bernie Sanders Visit and Hank Aaron Dedication
Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.” – John Dewey
57 Notable Donors 59 Alumni Spotlight 63 Executive Leadership Team 64 Board of Trustees 66 Financials
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Letter from the President & CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG
2023 Highlights Lake Nona Impact Forum for academic and healthcare leaders/CEOs Congressional Black Caucus Visit CARE trip to Ghana Spring Commencement Women with Heart Luncheon Hank Aaron Bridge & Plaza Dedication TED Women 2023
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Dear Morehouse School of Medicine Family and Friends, The theme for this year’s annual report is AU D A C I O U S — an adjective borrowed from the Latin word audacia, that is defined as intrepidly daring; extremely bold; venturesome; and fearless — meanings that perfectly describe a year chock-full of success stories at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). The year 2023 brought countless audacious opportunities to Morehouse School of Medicine, starting with the institution being selected by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as the host of his first official field roundtable as Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The roundtable discussion, which featured MSM MD students and residents and presidents of our fellow historically Black medical schools, spotlighted diversity, the exodus of healthcare workers caused by the pandemic, access to primary care and how to improve health outcomes for Black Americans. With a lens laser-focused on best practices, my podcast, Danforth Dialogues, which was originally developed with an emphasis on leadership lessons amid the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to evolve, broadening its subject matter expertise on leadership and breaking barriers. Last year, I had the pleasure of hosting an array of phenomenal leaders including Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman College; Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the first African American administrator to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Chris Womack, the first African American to be named chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company; Mayor Andre Dickens, 61st mayor of Atlanta; and Dr. Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer. In our continuous quest for excellence, Team SAMBAI, an interdisciplinary, global team led by Melissa B. Davis, PhD, founding director of the Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine, was shortlisted as one of 12 finalists out of 178 world-class global teams for the Cancer Grand Challenges last year. Team SAMBAI (Societal, Ancestry, Molecular, Biological Analyses of Inequities), which is comprised of 15 research institutions from the United States, Ghana, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, submitted a proposal to address cancer disparities in populations of African ancestry. The past year also saw tremendous growth at MSM. Thanks to a generous $2 million donation from the Croel Family Foundation, Morehouse School of Medicine launched the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute with our own world-renowned immunologist, virologist and vaccinologist Dr. Barney Graham at the helm — a feat that landed the institution on the cover of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
Our faculty and students continue to reap the rewards of our commitment to the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice with countless recognitions and awards. Likewise, I had the opportunity to serve as a featured speaker at the TEDWomen Conference and was humbled to receive both the National Medical Association’s highest honor, the 2023 Scroll of Merit Award, and the Thomas J. Blocker Award from the Morehouse College Thomas J. Blocker Society. The institution is growing by leaps and bounds, expanding both in our class sizes and physically with the continuing construction projects to improve and enhance our medical education, research and administrative spaces on campus. Last year, we expanded our clinical arm, Morehouse Healthcare, with the addition of two locations to address the healthcare deserts in South Fulton County — Morehouse Healthcare Princeton Lakes and Morehouse Healthcare East Point. We were also thrilled to welcome Neeraj Tolmare, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Coca-Cola, to MSM’s Board of Trustees. Lastly, MSM’s nearly five decades of pride as an Atlanta University Center (AUC) institution fueled our efforts to pay homage to one of Morehouse School of Medicine’s greatest donors, legendary baseball great Henry “Hank” Aaron. With the dedication of the Hank Aaron Bridge in Atlanta’s historic West End and the unveiling of the Hank Aaron Plaza and statue on MSM’s campus, we created a scenic gateway to the AUC that will be treasured for generations to come. Looking towards the future, I am excited about the audacious and innovative partnerships, research, programs and initiatives that are on the horizon. We are on a bold mission to impact our communities locally, nationally and internationally, and I invite you to remain steadfast on this journey with us because it is a new day at Morehouse School of Medicine and the world needs what we do best. All the best,
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG President and CEO Morehouse School of Medicine
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Top 10 Reflections of Institutional Excellence
From the Dean and Executive Vice President of Health Affairs J. Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH
As I reflect on the past year, I am proud to highlight the remarkable growth and achievements at Morehouse School of Medicine. Our milestones and groundbreaking moments exemplify our commitment to excellence, health equity and justice. Here are my top 10 highlights from 2023, paving the way for an even brighter future for MSM, our learners, stakeholders and the communities that support us. While there are many more accomplishments, these 10 represent the extraordinary strides we’ve made.
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Match Day Ninety-eight percent of MSM’s Doctor of Medicine students who participated in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were paired with residency placements, including 81 percent who received their first or only choice of specialty.
3 MSM Hosted Senator Bernie Sanders and HELP Committee Field Roundtable MSM had the honor of hosting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a field roundtable discussion on healthcare diversity. The event featured leaders from HBMSs (Historically Black Medical Schools), MSM MD students and residents and other healthcare experts.
Morehouse Healthcare Expansion Morehouse Healthcare (MHC) expanded its clinical services in the greater Atlanta area with the addition of two new primary care clinics — Morehouse Healthcare Princeton Lakes and Morehouse Healthcare East Point. Both facilities, located in the healthcare desert of South Fulton County, provide access to quality, culturally competent care and innovative medicine for patients. The East Point location is a partnership between MSM, Fulton County and Atrium Health, which is part of Advocate Health.
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Historic Commencement Exercises Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) conferred doctorate and master’s degrees in medicine, public health, and biomedical sciences to 170 students, its largest graduating class in the institution’s history, during its 39th Commencement Exercises on May 20, 2023.
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MSM Students Selected as HBCU White House Fellows
Charles O. Cooke, MD, Visiting Lecturer at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Two MSM students were selected as part of the 2023 cohort of HBCU Scholars by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans through HBCUs. Ndidi Ude and Emmanuel Dean were among the 102 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from 29 different states and countries recognized for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement.
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I was honored to be invited by the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OBEDI) at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University to serve as the Charles O. Cooke, MD, Visiting Lecturer for their National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) dissemination event: Advancing Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations.
NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative In collaboration with the National Football League (NFL), the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS), six Morehouse School of Medicine students participated in the second year of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. The national program aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and, over time, to help diversify NFL club medical staffs. MSM students completed month-long clinical rotations with the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively.
8 More in Common Alliance Dignity Health — California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) to serve as the academic sponsor for the center’s Family Medicine Residency Program. The partnership provides post-graduate residents and fellows with training focused on addressing health inequities and underserved patients. The announcement marked another milestone in the More in Common Alliance partnership between Dignity Health’s parent company CommonSpirit Health and MSM that was launched in December 2020 as a 10-year, $100 million initiative to increase medical education opportunities for more Black, Indigenous and people of color.
9 Physician Assistant Studies Program Granted 10-Year Accreditation In 2023, MSM’s Physician Assistant Studies Program was granted full accreditation. Continued status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. for the next 10 years.
10 Key Strategic Faculty Hiring and Promotion MSM appointed John H. Stewart, IV, MD, MBA, FACS, as its new chair of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Stewart also serves as chief of surgery for Morehouse School of Medicine at Grady Health System and associate dean for oncological programs at MSM. This represents another important indicator of progress in attracting high level academic faculty leadership.
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ARC: Audacious to me means that over time we are delivering exponentially more impact than we do today. That is impact on the lives of the young men and women who find their way to our campus and matriculate through MSM’s programs. Audacious also means the impact we have on the communities that our students, faculty, staff and executive team serve, evident by their tremendous outreach beyond the doors of our campus and how they make the surrounding community and greater Atlanta a better place for quality-of-life living.
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Interview with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Arthur R. Collins
MSM: As Chair of the Morehouse School of Medicine Board of Trustees, what are you most proud of in terms of accomplishments or growth during 2023? ARC: I am most proud of the effective collaboration amongst our trustees, who each bring their unique talents and experiences to our impactful deliberations. Our informed and collective efforts in support of the institution ensure we are engaged in the most important issues facing MSM, both challenges and opportunities alike, as we move forward in our mission of achieving health equity for all through health justice. As a board, we are committed to this vision and the work required for success. MSM: What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for Morehouse School of Medicine? ARC: Amongst many opportunities for MSM, we are poised for continued growth in terms of educating and training top notch medical doctors, physician assistants, nurses, researcher scientists and other healthcare professionals, who primarily choose to work within and on behalf of underserved communities throughout the state of Georgia and beyond. Therefore, our biggest opportunity is to create scale in our delivery of medical education, because the more we can do at MSM, the more Georgia and the United States will benefit from our work in improving health outcomes for the individuals and families we serve. MSM: The theme for this year’s annual report is audacious. What does the word audacious mean to you as it relates to Morehouse School of Medicine?
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MSM: Coca-Cola’s Neeraj Tolmare joined the Morehouse School of Medicine Board of Trustees in 2023. Why was he chosen and what does he bring to MSM’s Board? ARC: As I mentioned earlier, each of our trustees brings a unique set of talents and experiences, and as the Chief Information Officer for Coca-Cola, what Neeraj brings is his knowledge of the use of technology. He understands artificial intelligence (AI) at the highest level and how AI can and will impact the institution in the future. Most importantly, Neeraj brings his passion for our mission and he allows us to be forward leaning in our thinking as it relates to how we enhance what we do at MSM through the use of technology. He’ll also lead us at the board level to ensure our technology implementation is done in a way that delivers the maximum impact, while also taking into consideration the challenges that technology brings to an institution and how you mitigate any risks associated with its use. MSM: In keeping with MSM’s theme of our strategic plan (see page 14), in your own words, complete the rest of this sentence. It’s a new day at Morehouse School of Medicine because... ARC: It’s a new day at Morehouse School of Medicine because we are the best at what we do — delivering quality education to our students and quality and meaningful healthcare to the communities we serve and particularly as it relates to primary health care for communities that need it most.
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THE AUDACITY TO CLAIM OUR FUTURE 12
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AU D A C I O U S
AU D A C I OU S It is a New Day at Morehouse School of Medicine. With the development of an audacious new strategic plan, the establishment of additional Morehouse Healthcare clinics in underserved locations, and the inauguration of the new David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute, MSM’s leadership, administrators, faculty, staff and students worked tirelessly in 2023 to move us toward a future defined not only by our mission to improve health equity, but also to achieve health justice, in the United States and around the world. The following pages spell out the stories of how
What paralyzes life is lack of faith and lack of audacity. The difficulty lies not in solving problems but identifying them.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
STORIES
we arrived at this transformational moment.
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Declaring “A New Day” Morehouse School of Medicine unveils Strategic Plan for 2023 and beyond
A conversation with the strategic plan architects: David Hefner, EdD Vice President, Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness Henry King, MBA, PhD Assistant Vice President of Strategy Morehouse School of Medicine
Throughout much of 2023, teams of Morehouse School of Medicine faculty and staff gathered to reimagine the institution’s future through MSM’s Strategic Plan. At the same time, interviews were conducted with external partners and a community survey reached more than 3,500 stakeholders. The result was “A New Day: MSM’s New Strategic Direction, 2023 and Beyond.” The most significant change was an addition to MSM’s vision statement, which now reads “Leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice.” Justice was also reflected in its mission statement, with emphasis on “those systematically excluded” included in those MSM seeks to serve. Justice is now one of MSM’s Core Values, identified as “Enabling conditions, contexts and systems to make equity and optimal health possible.” It joins the institution’s established Core Values of Excellence, Service, Innovation, Integrity and Wisdom. Four pillars will guide MSM’s efforts to make its vision a reality: Research, Clinical Care, Education and Community Engagement. Additionally, four platforms further serve as a foundation for the Strategic Plan. The Research Pillar focuses on “Translating Discovery & Innovation Into Health Equity.” A team led by co-chairs Dr. Rick Kittles and Dr. Brian Rivers formulated an overall goal which seeks to “Partner with communities
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to dismantle barriers to optimal health through discovery and the implementation of scientific, medical and public health breakthroughs by leveraging technology and our unique talents.” This will be accomplished through four methods, comprised of Tx Research, Funding, Education and Technology. The Clinical Pillar centers on “Building Bridges Between Healthcare and Health.” Co-chairs Dr. Folashade Omole and Dr. Errol Crook and their team saw a need to “Build a just and sustainable healthy global community, centering the patient as an equal.” To achieve this goal, emphasis will be placed on Patient Care, Global Impact, Community Environment and Technology. The Education Pillar concentrates on “Preparing Future Health Learners and Leaders.” A group led by Dr. Pangela Dawson and Dr. Erica Sutton chose to emphasize the goal of establishing MSM to be “Recognized as the world-class and dynamic academic health science ecosystem where health equity and health justice learners and leaders are empowered to remove educational, medical and social barriers to produce pathways toward optimal health for all.” To achieve this aim, focus will be placed on Academic and Student Support Services, Wellness, and Growth and Impact. The Community Engagement Pillar sees MSM as “Serving as a Catalyst for Health Equity and Justice.” Dr. Tabia Akintobi and Dr. Dominic Mack co-chaired a team that positioned MSM to “Lead in the transformation of
Health Justice
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Four Pillars
Research
Clinical Care
Education
Community Engagement
Four Platforms Human Capital Policy and Advocacy
THE INVESTMENT OF AN INSTITUTION
Financial and Operational Stewardship
Total Number of One-on-One Interviews: 83
Brand Positioning
Total Number of Focus Groups: 7 Total Number of Pillar and Platform Design Team meetings: 53 Length of Final Strategic Plan: 59 pages
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contexts, conditions and systems to be the preeminent global resource advancing community-centered and powered health equity and health justice to ensure optimal health for all by, with and for communities.” Partnership, Innovation, Environment and Education will be key to accomplishing this mission. To support MSM’s Strategic Plan and the four pillars, the working groups further identified four platforms. The Human Capital Platform aims to foster a culture where all are valued, positioning MSM as “the preferred global employer for health equity and health justice innovators and champions.” This will be fulfilled through Accountability, Talent Recruitment, and Talent Retention and Development. The Financial and Operational Stewardship Platform focuses on achieving organizational excellence and business performance in order that MSM is “Recognized as the global innovative hub in organizational excellence and business performance to achieve advanced health equity and health justice for all communities.” This goal will be supported through pursuit of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Finance and Infrastructure. The Policy and Advocacy Platform supports MSM’s efforts toward transforming health through
policy and advocacy, positioning the institution as “the premiere global vehicle through which policies are transformed to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure health equity and health justice across all communities and all levels of government.” To achieve this aim, focus will be placed on maintenance of a Cohesive and Collaborative Internal Structure, Innovative Education and Training Programs, Co-Creation, Research and Dissemination, and Influential and Sustainable Partnerships. Finally, the Brand Positioning Platform centers on strengthening and empowering our brand to “Position Morehouse School of Medicine, in the minds of all, as the trusted leader for health equity and health justice through education, clinical care, research and community engagement.” This includes unifying MSM’s Brand Identity and Image, Experience and Awareness. The Strategic Plan emphasized the need for all members of the MSM community to support its endeavors. “We must all work together to advance these shared goals and continue the incredible momentum we have here at MSM,” the plan’s architects implored. “Together, we will achieve health justice and create healthier communities.”
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Research shows that south and central areas of Fulton County are ‘healthcare deserts’ due to lack of medical services. To help bridge the gap, Morehouse Healthcare located its new East Point clinic in the historic BuggyWorks complex on East Cleveland Avenue.
Morehouse Healthcare (MHC) is the clinical services arm of Morehouse School of Medicine. Its physicians are world-renowned for their clinical expertise and compassion in serving diverse populations. “Regular visits to a primary care provider who knows the history of a patient and can prescribe a health regimen that will improve wellness is what is needed,” said J. Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH, Dean and Executive Vice President, Health Affairs at Morehouse School of Medicine. “Patients who come to Morehouse Healthcare clinics will receive that kind of care.” History of Morehouse Healthcare Since its founding in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine has looked to provide quality medical care to diverse populations throughout Georgia. In 1985, that dream came true with the establishment of Morehouse Medical Associates, Inc. In 2013, Morehouse Medical Associates, Inc. re-emerged as Morehouse Healthcare (MHC) and today is comprised of more than 100 practicing physicians. The physicians at Morehouse Healthcare provide medical support to nearly every major hospital and clinic in Atlanta, making Morehouse Healthcare one of the largest physician groups in Georgia and one of the state’s premier primary care and multi-specialty medical practices. Morehouse Healthcare’s focus continues to be providing quality medical care to Atlanta’s multicultural community.
The Differentiator All MHC physicians are full-time clinical faculty at Morehouse School of Medicine with residents and medical students as an extension of its practice. The integration of MHC’s practice with Morehouse School of Medicine residents and students maximizes the health care it provides and grants an academic
advantage exclusive to the next generation of physicians. Another differentiator at Morehouse Healthcare is that the groundbreaking research developed by researchers at Morehouse School of Medicine is subsequently implemented at its clinics.
Expansion Morehouse Healthcare Princeton Lakes On September 19, 2023, Morehouse Healthcare proudly opened its doors at a new location — Morehouse Healthcare Princeton Lakes, located at 3885 Princeton Lakes Way, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30331. Previously identified as a “healthcare desert” in south Fulton County, MHC specifically chose this location to enhance the healthcare experience and ensure equitably accessible care for the surrounding community. Under the Morehouse Healthcare brand, board-certified Internal Medicine physicians Dr. Tawian Livingston and Dr. Cassandra Treadway, along with nurse practitioner Esther Lee, successfully returned their practice to the Camp Creek community. Between opening its doors in September and the end of the year in December, the thriving MHC Princeton Lakes location was operating at capacity.
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PRIMARY CARE: Adult Medicine Family Medicine Pediatrics + 21 Specialties
MSM President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, (second from left) and leaders from MSM, Fulton County and Atrium Health offered a “first look” to members of the media at the Morehouse Healthcare East Point clinic on October 30, 2023.
Morehouse Healthcare East Point In April 2023, Morehouse School of Medicine presented research to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners that illustrated the south and central areas of Fulton County were “healthcare deserts” with, for example, no medical specialists in cardiology, pulmonology and infectious diseases for the area’s 240,000 residents. As a result, the Fulton County board approved a contract for Morehouse School of Medicine to establish a Morehouse Healthcare Clinic in East Point, Georgia. “Morehouse Healthcare is committed to moving closer to where people live, work and play, meeting our patients where they are,” said Errol D. Crook, MD, senior associate dean of Clinical Affairs at Morehouse School of Medicine and chief medical officer at Morehouse Healthcare. “In addition to Fulton County, we are also pleased that Atrium Health is partnering with us to provide the health records system for the East Point clinic. Morehouse Healthcare’s partnership with Atrium Health aligns two leading organizations with a shared commitment to health equity capable of
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building sustainable solutions to address the needs of East Point and the greater Atlanta community.” On October 30, 2023, MHC opened Phase I of the Morehouse Healthcare East Point clinic in partnership with Fulton County and Atrium Health, a part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the country. Similar to MHC Princeton Lakes, Morehouse Healthcare East Point was selected as a solution to address the “healthcare desert” in the area. MHC East Point is located in the historic BuggyWorks complex at 1513 East Cleveland Ave., Building 500, East Point, Georgia. In alignment with MHC’s other three locations, the East Point clinic offers an array of comprehensive primary and specialty care services. This location currently has four providers — two physicians and two nurse practitioners — along with a community health worker. One unique trait of the Morehouse Healthcare East Point clinic is that this location also serves as a training facility for Morehouse School of Medicine’s innovative, nationally recognized Community Health Worker
(CHW) certification program, where it trains up to 12 CHWs annually, each of whom receive a stipend. The Community Health Worker program trains local residents to serve as health advisors to fellow citizens in the community, helping them address barriers including access to health care, insurance or lack thereof, poor health literacy, transportation and childcare. Phase II of MHC East Point will expand services to include additional patient exam rooms, Pediatrics and Sports Medicine, while Phase III will expand the clinic’s service lines to Pediatric Psychiatry and Radiology. Morehouse Healthcare Princeton Lakes and Morehouse Healthcare East Point are the third and fourth outpatient clinics operated by MHC, respectively, adding to its existing portfolio of Atlanta facilities at 1800 Howell Mill Road and 455 Lee St., as well as its telemedicine offerings. Adding two additional locations allowed Morehouse Healthcare to extend its reach to better serve the health needs of the greater Atlanta community.
Telemedicine Thanks to technological advances, both the way patients receive care and the modern-day methods providers have adopted to deliver care have transformed in recent years. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), telemedicine is the use of electronic information and communications technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants. Morehouse Healthcare offers telemedicine as a convenient way for patients to engage with and be monitored remotely by clinical staff. Using everyday technology such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop, MHC physicians can see a sick patient, check in with a patient recovering from surgery, and follow up on a patient’s treatment regimen — and it can all be done at the click of a button from the comfort and privacy of a patient’s home or office. Led by Walkitria Smith, MD, chief digital medical officer at Morehouse Healthcare, the practice’s telemedicine services include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Surgery (pre- and post-operation).
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The David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute will Focus on Action-Oriented Change on the World Stage Morehouse School of Medicine’s global health equity goals are as big as the world itself. Some may even call them audacious. And when renowned health experts gathered for the first Dr. David Satcher Global Health Equity Summit in Atlanta on Sept. 14, 2023, to discuss how to support low-resource countries and expand diversity in the global medical workforce, the event shined a spotlight on the institution’s ambitions. MSM aims to not only improve health equity in the United States but to eliminate race-based health disparities everywhere.
To reach those heights, MSM announced at the summit the creation of the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute and named Dr. Barney Graham as its founding director. Made possible by an initial $2 million donation from the Croel Family Foundation, the new institute will build on MSM’s close to 50 years of work toward diversifying the public health and scientific workforce. Nearly 64 percent of all practicing physicians in the US are white, according to 2022 research by the Association of American Medical Colleges. And most of the genomics research for medical studies
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has not included people of color, who “continue to face challenging health disparities when compared to whites,” said MSM President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice. “Blacks suffer higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.” Dr. Graham and other leaders at MSM know that to further move the needle on health equity in the US and beyond requires changing a wider world of perceptions about physicians, researchers and other healthcare professionals. The Global Health Equity Institute will work “to change the narrative and the ideas that people have about who can do things and who can’t,” said Dr. Graham. MSM received a $2 million donation from Jon and Donna Croel and the Croel Family Foundation to establish the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute at MSM. Pictured “The main philosophy I bring is that we are missing a from left to right: Jon Croel, Dr. Barney Graham, Dr. Cynthia Turner-Graham, Donna Croel, lot of talent.” Dr. David Satcher, and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice at the Dr. David Satcher Global Health MSM’s students are its most important resource. Equity Summit on September 14, 2023. One of the institute’s functions is to connect these established the Croel Family Foundation in future physicians, researchers and health experts with early 2023 and agreed to seed the directorship global opportunities to learn about health care in other “To me, health equity at MSM’s new institute with the promise to countries so that they may start to create solutions is not just distributing help MSM raise an additional $18 million to to systemic problems. Dr. Graham also is developing medicines, it’s really get the organization under way. “If we broaden the Office of Global Policy and Advocacy to focus on about how people live diversity in health care, scientific and public influencing equity legislation. Additionally, the institute all the way through health workforces and provide access to health will work with other initiatives across MSM to bring solutions for under-resourced global populatheir life…” the institution’s global health equity efforts under one tions, we can drastically improve quality of life umbrella and assist in fundraising. “I really think if we can and access to research, wellness and scientific diversify the global health leadership, equity will be a — Barney Graham capital,” said Jon Croel. Ultimately, Dr. Graham consequence of that,” said Dr. Graham. “That is probably hopes to raise $150 million, some of which a multi-generational goal,” he said. Even so, he said, will go tuition relief, “because when students “Eventually, the solution to equity will be our young graduate with $350,000 or $400,000 of debt, they don’t people and the opportunities they get.” have a choice for public health,” said Dr. Graham. Dr. Graham’s research over his 40-year career as a respected immunologist and Dr. Gilberte “Gigi” Bastien, associate professor of virologist — two decades of which he spent at the National Institute of Allergy and psychiatry and behavioral science, is the associate Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center, where he served as the deputy director director of MSM’s Office of Global Health Equity and and chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Lab — helped lead to the development of the she’s now working with Dr. Graham at the institute. mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, RSV, influenza and other breakthroughs. He retired from She, too, believes students are the key to meeting the National Institutes of Health in 2021 and the following year joined Morehouse MSM’s equity goals. “One of our chief charges with this School of Medicine as a senior advisor for global health equity. He recognizes the institute is to help our student body see themselves in magnitude of the task ahead. “My feeling is that work on equity will never be finished,” a global health landscape,” she said, “to get some notion he said. “To me, health equity is not just distributing medicines, it’s really about how by the time they leave Morehouse School of Medicine people live all the way through their life, how they’re educated, how they’re given as to what their unique contribution could be that opportunities to use their gifts, then who ends up being trained to make decisions, helps address really pressing issues around the globe.” who gets to make the decisions.” To that end, she and Dr. Graham are connecting Philanthropist and Morehouse College alumnus Jon Croel and his wife Donna Croel MSM students to programs established by such are “passionate advocates for global health access and equity,” Dr. Graham said. They
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international organizations as USAID, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has a mission supporting medical laboratories in Kenya to improve diagnostics, outbreak detection, systems development and genome sequencing. Dr. Graham is developing further avenues in Ghana for students seeking international experience. To help inform the institute’s future efforts, Drs. Graham and Bastien are awaiting results of a survey of all the international work being conducted at MSM. Such work includes that of Dr. Melissa Davis whose new international team will conduct breast, prostate and colorectal cancer research in Africa, the United Kingdom and the US. Dr. Michael Powell’s lab, meanwhile, has been working on a likely groundbreaking plant-based HIV treatment in conjunction with the Senegal-based NGO Prometra. “As we’re a part of these broader conversations about global priorities, we’re able to then go back to our unit leads and help guide their efforts to take the best of what we’re doing at Morehouse School of Medicine and see what the impacts and benefits could be on a global scale,” explained Dr. Bastien. That includes working with government legislators in Washington to influence equity laws. As important as influencing policy, MSM’s experience and leadership in “bringing community on as substantive partners” both in the US and around the world will further help to fulfill its mission, said Dr. Bastien, and is something the institute will continue. She cited MSM’s work with the University of Ghana, the Ghana AIDS Commission and other groups there. While MSM initially took the lead position in the partnership, eventually staff from MSM’s grants office traveled to the University of Ghana and helped them think about how to competitively pursue funding on their own. “[There is much] to learn from our partners around the globe,” said Dr. Bastien, adding, “empowering them to take the lead in their own health promotion and advancement is an essential principle and value for us [at the Institute].”
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With this audacious agenda before them, Dr. Graham, Dr. Bastien and others involved in MSM’s David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute are eager to move ahead. “We want to do more than study equity,” said Dr. Graham. “We want the work of the institute to be action-oriented and be focused on implementing change.”
THE AUDACITY TO TAKE OUR PLACE Morehouse School of Medicine
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AU D A C I O U S
AU D A C I O U S
To continue our audacious journey toward meeting the health equity needs of today and tomorrow, Morehouse School of Medicine has continued to expand in the vital areas of education, innovation, personal capital and global impact. From introducing audacious new programs (including nursing), accelerating breakthroughs in health care through new technologies, expanding our infrastructure and our global research and partnerships abroad, MSM continues to lead the quest for a more equitable and just healthcare future.
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We must move forward in the days ahead with audacious faith. The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
IMPACT
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Education
Nursing Program Master of Public Health Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences Physician Assistants in Maine More in Common Alliance (MiCA)
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Nursing Program The Audacity to Bridge the Gap MSM moves ahead with plans to create nursing program to address growing patient needs and workforce shortages
The United States is grappling with a growing shortage of nurses. Inadequate levels of nursing staff contribute to errors and elevated mortality rates, along with heightened burnout and dissatisfaction among nurses, as well as higher healthcare costs. According to a Health Workforce Analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in November 2022, federal authorities project a shortage of more than 78,000 full-time registered nurses in 2025 and a shortage of nearly 64,000 full-time RNs in 2030. A 2023 study released by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that about 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the previous two years amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 610,000 more expected to leave by 2027.
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The Landscape Georgia, at 21 percent, is among the states with the largest projected nursing shortage in 2035. The state also has one of the worst current nurse-to-patient ratios, with just seven RNs for every 1,000 people, according to the US Chamber of Commerce. Morehouse School of Medicine is answering the call, moving ahead with plans to create a nursing program to meet the critical need for more nurses, especially in nursing leadership. It started with looking at the data, according to Cassandra Lawrence, project director for digital innovation and content strategy in the MSM Office of Impact and Innovation. “What came back was contrasting to MDs, where Blacks represent about 13 percent of the population but only roughly five percent of the physician workforce,” Lawrence said. “Nurses had more parity, where you were seeing about 11 to 13 percent. But where you started to see a disparity is when you moved into the advanced practice nurses, your nurse leaders, your nurse scientists, your nurse practitioners. All of a sudden that number is dropping down to three and five percent. And so that really means that we have a large pool of nurses that aren’t transitioning into those nurse leadership roles.” The Program That’s why MSM is choosing to begin with advanced nursing degrees, rather than a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Individuals who earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) are considered Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and may take on more of a leadership role in clinical practice or healthcare administration. They work to improve care delivery and outcomes, often taking a step back from daily practice to observe how the system works together as a whole. Increasing and diversifying the APRN workforce addresses systemic healthcare challenges and barriers to health equity, and directly aligns with Morehouse School of Medicine’s mission and vision. “There’s a gap in care in our communities and so the nursing program is a great fit with the other programs
that we have, and uses our interdisciplinary approach to creating or co-creating solutions for health equity,” said Taya Jackson Scott, EdD, MSM Chief Innovation Officer. “And so part of that is looking at individuals who are culturally responsible and responsive and even relevant during this time period with shortages in nurses as well as physicians.” The Focus The MSM Center for Maternal Health Equity is already working to create solutions and interventions to decrease maternal mortality and morbidity, which is a particular problem for Black women and pregnant people, who are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancyrelated complications than their white counterparts. Creating programs at MSM for nurse practitioners who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as certified nurse midwives, will further meet this need. Partnerships will be key as MSM creates its nursing program. The institution is looking to Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) as a role model and collaborator. “Vanderbilt was the right choice for the moment for us because their School of Nursing, especially in the midwifery space, is ranked No. 1 in the country,” Dr. Jackson Scott said. “And then also with that piece of it, we felt like we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.” MSM’s nursing program is likely to launch in early 2027, according to Dr. Jackson Scott, fitting with the
American College of Nursing’s two-year timeline for full accreditation and approval. Creating a new degree program from scratch is an audacious goal, but one that Lawrence and Dr. Jackson Scott say Morehouse School of Medicine is well qualified to achieve. “As Dr. Montgomery Rice says, we are the ones who the world’s been waiting for,” Dr. Jackson Scott said. “MSM and the Office of Impact and Innovation inspire others to understand what health equity is all about and what that really means. I don’t know how bolder you can get with starting a PA program, getting that fully accredited, and now moving into a nursing program and then into a health science center. I think that it’s powerful.” “Building out a full school of nursing is a very audacious goal, especially for an almost 50-year-old institution,” Lawrence added. “And then on top of that, the impact that bringing on this program can potentially have in the community — training professionals who have a health equity and justice lens, who have a commitment to the community that they’ve demonstrated through their educational training and rigor, and who will have this team-based, interdisciplinary approach to how they deliver care — is just going to be transformational. To have the audacity to dream bigger for the community in a way that engages and empowers these future nurse leaders, that’s the audacity.”
Launching in early 2027
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) degrees
FUTURE IMPACT: • Increase in nurse leadership • Increase in nurse scientists • Improvements in maternal health rates • Strong partnership with Vanderbilt University
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2023 Education Highlights A New Injury and Violence Prevention Residency Program
Graduate Education in Public Health The Division of Injury Prevention at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
1
with the MPH Program at MSM to recruit public health and health 2
professions students who will earn graduate degrees in public health. The MOU led to the development of an Injury and Violence Prevention Residency Program to enhance student academic preparation with practical public health training and experience to prepare learners as early career professionals in injury prevention. Four Spring 2023 MPH graduates became inaugural residents of the program. Monique Terrell served as a student liaison for RCE Greater Atlanta — a United Nations (UN) University Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development. RCEs support multi-stakeholder implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level through education and training. RCE Greater Atlanta is one of over 190 RCEs worldwide acknowledged by UN University. Monique maintained this role through the Center of Excellence on Climate and Environmental Health which is housed in the Department of Public Health Education. Elijah Richardson was a Fellow with the Undiagnosed Diseases Network Coordinating Center at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Alicia Best, MSM MPH Class of 2009, joined the public health faculty at MSM. Previously, Dr. Best was a tenured associate professor at the University of South Florida. Her area of expertise is health promotion, education and behavior. She is certified in public health (CPH) and is a certified health education specialist (CHES). Dr. Brenton Powers, MSM MPH Class of 2010 and MPH Program assistant director, was a member of the inaugural cohort of MSM’s Innovation and Inclusive Leadership Academy.
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3
4
6
5
1) Monique Terrel 2) Dr. Alicia Best 3) Dr. Brenton Powers 4) Dr. Stephanie Miles-Richardson 5) Elijah Richardson 6) Dr. Gemechu Gerbi
Dr. Gemechu Gerbi, MPH director of Public Health Research, has been invited to serve as a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Site Visitor. CEPH is recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside of schools of public health. Dr. Stephanie Miles-Richardson, associate dean of graduate education in Public Health, MPH Program Director and Director of the Center of Excellence on Climate and Environmental Health, organized a session titled “Assuring Environmental Health and Justice in Communities of Concern,” which was presented at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual Convention and Expo in Atlanta in November 2023. Additionally, Dr. Miles-Richardson was elected to serve as a Governing Councilor for the Environment section of APHA.
Inaugural Programs, Initiatives and Expansion
Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences Over the past year, the Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences (GEBS) program at Morehouse School of Medicine has made significant strides in various areas. A major highlight has been the creation of a new GEBS Strategic Plan, setting the direction for future growth and development. Key partnerships have been established, including a collaboration with the MSM Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy to create opportunities for their students, and with Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) to provide a research opportunity for a prospective student. Additionally, GEBS has partnered with Jackson Labs to host “The Whole Scientist,” a two-day event for GEBS research students as well as seniorlevel graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from Emory University, Georgia State University, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia Tech. GEBS has strengthened its relationship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (CDC/NCIRD) through several initiatives. The CDC/NCIRD-MSM Mentorship Program was created for nine PhD students and will expand this year to include all GEBS students. GEBS students also participated in the CDC/NCIRD-MSM Health Equity Collaborative Initiative (HECI), which included the inaugural MSM Day at CDC and the NCIRD/Morehouse Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Internship Program. These partnerships are aimed at enhancing research opportunities and providing valuable experiences for GEBS students.
Student satisfaction remains high, with graduating students rating their overall satisfaction at 3.94/5 and the value of their education at 4.18/5. Most students praised the community atmosphere and the professors as the best aspects of their experience. The PhD and Master of Science in Biomedical Research (MSBR) program directors have developed a task force/ focus group centered around curriculum changes, including program directors, two students who matriculated from the MSBR to PhD program and the GEBS curriculum manager. The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) program is drafting a letter of intent to become the first accredited MSHI program in Georgia, while the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program is working to create a certificate program similar to Emory University’s to aid residents and fellows. New resources have been developed for students, including the GEBS New Student Resources Canvas Page. To incentivize productivity and top-level performance, the GEM Spotlight program has been introduced for GEBS staff and leadership. The GEBS Ambassadors Program saw students participating in ambassador training, leading private and group tours for potential applicants, attending various recruiting events and representing GEBS at academic events. GEBS Week featured events to celebrate research at MSM, engage students and inform them about available resources on campus, including Biomedical Research Awareness Day and the GEBS Program Fair.
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PA Studies Faculty Recruitment MiCA
Physician Assistant Studies In September 2023, four MSM Physician Assistant Studies students embarked on a unique training program in partnership with Northern Light Health, a health system in Maine. The four students performed their clerkship training at rural and urban medical centers in the state, conducting rotations in four-week increments at a number of facilities in clinical areas including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health and more. “The MSM PA program was implemented as an option to increase access to quality care and improve health outcomes in underserved and rural communities across Georgia and the country,” said Pangela Dawson, PhD, MSPAS, PA-C, assistant dean, department chair and founding program director of MSM’s Physician Assistant Studies program. “Our mission at MSM continues to focus on creating and advancing health equity. Birthing new collaborations such as this one allows both entities to enhance the healthcare system while expanding and diversifying the healthcare workforce.” Hospitals around the country are having a difficult time recruiting and keeping clinical staff. Those issues strike extra hard in a rural state like Maine, which faces challenges with health delivery. “I’d like to be able to interact with patients and give them a positive experience,” said PA student Detavius Veal, “meet them where they are in those rural communities and get them the access they need.” “I believe that a group of people who can work collaboratively toward a common goal can make a beautiful impact together,” said fellow student Hillary
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Birago. “I chose physician assistant studies because I want to make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized by the healthcare system. Being able to represent diversity and inclusion is what I’m most excited about for my clerkship here in Maine.”
Faculty Recruitment Morehouse School of Medicine added 52 faculty members during Fiscal Year 2024, including seven faculty members each for the Master of Public Health program and the Department of Anatomy, Pathology, and Medical Education, five for both Medicine and Family Medicine, and four for Surgery and Physician Assistant Studies. Another 14 faculty members were expected to join the Department of Medicine during Fiscal Year 2025, among the 36 new hires. Overall, MSM has a total of 323 faculty members to date, including 254 full-time faculty and 69 part-time faculty.
More in Common Alliance The More in Common Alliance (MiCA) was forged through a powerful partnership between CommonSpirit Health (CSH) and Morehouse School of Medicine, united in their mission to confront the deeply rooted health inequities in underserved communities in America.
With a decade-long commitment and a substantial
that every voice, every perspective, is crucial in this
$100 million investment, MiCA is poised to revolutionize
journey towards a more equitable healthcare system.
the healthcare landscape. We aim to expand access to
To achieve this transformative change, MiCA has
medical education and cultivate a diverse workforce that
established strategic pillars that focus on:
authentically mirrors the communities it serves, thereby
• Recruiting students from historically
fundamentally transforming the face of health care. MiCA’s mission is to bolster health equity by increasing the availability of well-trained, culturally humble health
marginalized communities • Expanding Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs
providers from underrepresented backgrounds. Our
• Establishing new regional medical campuses
vision is to foster a healthcare environment where
• Developing robust pathway programs for aspiring
diversity is the bedrock of innovation, community resilience flourishes and equity is the gold standard of health and well-being for every community. We believe
healthcare professionals • Promoting a national model of training and knowledge creation in health care
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2
Innovation
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Annual Report 2023
Breakthroughs Pillar Goals Inclusive Research Precision Medicine Institutes and Centers
Transforming Health Care through Innovation: Morehouse School of Medicine’s Impact Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is in charge of transforming the healthcare landscape through relentless innovation. By investing in MSM, particularly through the Innovation pillar of our IMPACT campaign, stakeholders are not only contributing, they are becoming an integral part of groundbreaking research addressing some of the world’s most pressing health disparities. Your contribution accelerates breakthroughs in public health, scientific discovery and healthcare delivery, significantly improving the health and well-being of underserved communities. Accelerating Breakthroughs MSM researchers and clinicians are at the forefront of pioneering transformative treatments and meeting community health needs through hands-on care, digital innovation and outreach solutions. These efforts are more than addressing health gaps, they are transforming lives. By focusing on maternal health, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, precision medicine and more, MSM is expanding cutting-edge research to ensure better health outcomes for all. Innovation Pillar Goals The goals of the Innovation pillar within the IMPACT campaign are multifaceted: 1. Expand Cutting-Edge Research: MSM is dedicated to advancing research in key areas such as maternal health, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer and precision medicine. This expansion is crucial to developing new treatments and interventions to save lives and improve health outcomes. 2. Enhance Community Engagement and Collaborative Initiatives: MSM believes in the power of community engagement and collaboration. By working closely with local communities and other institutions, MSM aims to address health disparities effectively and ensure that healthcare solutions are relevant and impactful. 3. Increase Healthcare Services to Underserved Communities: MSM is committed to increasing healthcare services in underserved urban and rural communities. This includes providing comprehensive care and support to those who need it the most and ensuring equitable access to health care.
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4. Create Endowed Roles in Research: Establishing endowed research roles, directorships and fellowships is essential to attracting and retaining top talent. These positions will lead innovative research and drive the development of new healthcare solutions. 5. Build State-of-the-Art Laboratories and Equipment: Investing in state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, including computational power for genomic sequencing, is crucial for advancing research and developing precise medical interventions. 6. Attract Venture Capital and Philanthropy: MSM is focused on attracting venture capital investors and philanthropic support to fund innovative projects, such as the development of natural products and new diagnostics. This funding is vital for sustaining and expanding MSM’s research initiatives. Addressing Health Disparities through Inclusive Research Increasing diversity in research is fundamental to dismantling systemic and structural barriers to optimal health. Comprehensive and inclusive research data sets are necessary to understand the complexities of health disparities and develop effective solutions. MSM recognizes that: • Health outcomes cannot be changed if research data sets are incomplete or have gaps. • The right research questions cannot be asked if the research workforce does not represent populations experiencing the greatest health disparities. • Clinical interventions cannot be ensured to improve health outcomes if all groups are not represented in clinical trials. Ensuring the Promise of Precision Medicine for All Health is not one-size-fits-all. Precision medicine, which tailors treatments based on a patient’s genomic profile, allows clinicians to predict and direct the prevention, care and disease management necessary to improve individual and population health outcomes more accurately. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that less than 2 percent of human genomes analyzed to date are reflective of diverse populations. MSM is committed to ensuring that precision medicine benefits everyone. Institutes and Centers Driving Innovation MSM houses several institutes and centers that are driving innovation and research: • Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine • Clinical Research Center • Neuroscience Institute • Prevention Research Center • Cardiovascular Research Institute • Cancer Health Equity Institute • Center for Maternal Health Equity • Bioinformatics • Health Policy • Infectious Disease • Community-Based Participatory Research
Leading the Way in Genomic Medicine Dr. Melissa B. Davis, the director of the Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine at MSM, is a key figure in overcoming the biases and limitations of precision medicine for underserved populations. A distinguished cancer geneticist and Georgia Research Alliance investigator, Dr. Davis is dedicated to ensuring that MSM is at the cutting edge of genomic technology and leadership. Her work involves hosting training sessions on health disparities for clinicians and mentoring students and faculty. She is a scientific advocacy partner for minoritized patient populations and is involved in various advisory boards for national organizations and industry partners, promoting global health equity and patient engagement. Conclusion Morehouse School of Medicine’s commitment to innovation is transforming the world of health care. By focusing on cutting-edge research, community engagement and inclusive practices, MSM addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes for underserved populations. The support from donors and partners is crucial in sustaining and expanding these efforts, ensuring that MSM continues to lead the way in creating and advancing health equity. Through the Innovation pillar of the IMPACT campaign, MSM is not only meeting the healthcare needs of today but also shaping the future of health care for generations to come.
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Capital
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Capital Investments Growing Demands of Health Care Goals of the Pillar Infrastructure Expansion
Shaping the Future of Health Care: Morehouse School of Medicine’s Capital Investments Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is leveraging capital investments to shape the future of health care in Georgia and beyond. Building upon a legacy of success, MSM is addressing the evolving needs of the state, the nation and the world by expanding its impact through strategic capital improvements. These investments are crucial in providing students with a world-class, culturally competent education rooted in innovation and community service. A commitment to health equity and justice is at the core of MSM’s mission. The capital investments and infrastructure expansion efforts are designed to support this mission by providing the resources and capacity needed to educate a larger, more diverse student body, conduct impactful research and deliver comprehensive healthcare services. By addressing the unique healthcare needs of all communities, MSM is working to eliminate health disparities and promote equitable health outcomes. Meeting the Growing Demands of Health Care To fulfill our mission to transform health care and achieve health justice, MSM recognizes the need for larger classrooms, laboratories, study rooms and collaboration spaces to support student growth. By investing in MSM through the Capital pillar of our IMPACT campaign, supporters help fund and subsidize efforts to expand our physical infrastructure. This includes constructing a new academic and research building, which will significantly increase our capacity to educate more students and address clinical shortages. Morehouse School of Medicine
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Goals of the Capital Pillar The Capital pillar of the IMPACT campaign focuses on several key goals: Expanded Classrooms: MSM aims to educate more diverse physicians, clinicians, scientists and public health professionals to meet critical healthcare workforce shortages. Larger classrooms will accommodate this growing student body. Additional Space for Faculty and Programs: The expansion includes space for faculty and new degree programs, such as advanced practice nursing focused on midwifery. This will help address specific healthcare needs and workforce gaps. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Spaces: New spaces will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, providing opportunities for student and alumni mentoring and professional development. These areas are crucial for cultivating a supportive and innovative educational environment. State-of-the-Art Research Labs: The new facilities will include advanced research labs equipped with the latest technology, AI capacity and genomics computation. These labs will support research in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and other areas that disproportionately affect communities of color. Facilities for Natural Products Research: MSM is also dedicating space to research natural products. This research aims to develop new products and cures that can be distributed through equity-funded partnerships, enhancing the accessibility and impact of healthcare innovations. Capital Investments and Infrastructure Expansion A major construction project on the main MSM campus is a new academic and research building spanning over 143,000 square feet. Expected to cost $125 million, this building will feature spaces for experiential learning, biomedical research and interdepartmental collaboration. It will house MSM’s Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine, the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute, the Cancer Health Equity Institute and other research centers. Additionally, MSM’s Vivarium, one of the only certified animal research facilities in the US, will relocate to this new facility. This building project presents naming opportunities for donors, allowing MSM to recognize the financial support of key partners who are instrumental in helping us achieve our mission. These contributions are vital in supporting MSM’s efforts to expand its infrastructure, conduct groundbreaking research and provide a top-tier education to future healthcare leaders. Through the Capital pillar of the IMPACT campaign, MSM is expanding its infrastructure to support student growth, advanced research, interdisciplinary collaboration and new degree programs. These efforts are crucial for training the next generation of healthcare professionals, conducting groundbreaking research and addressing the healthcare needs of underserved communities.
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4
One Year
A Gallery of Moments
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One Year Like No Other
Georgia is our home. The world is our community. This is becoming the mantra at MSM as our impact expands from our neighbors in Atlanta to the White House to our service work abroad in Africa and India.
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1. 2. 3. 4.
FEBRUARY: Twelfth Women with Heart Luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium AUGUST: MSM H.E.A.L. Clinic supporting the EVECE 5K Walk For Life MARCH: Match Day 2023 APRIL: 13th Annual Hugh M. Gloster Celebration with Mrs. Billye Suber
Aaron, winner of the 2023 Vanguard Award 5. NOVEMBER: HeLa Symposium, “Addressing Racial and Ethnic Gynecological Health Disparities”
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6. MAY: Henry “Hank” Aaron Bridge & Plaza Dedication 7. MAY: 39th Annual Commencement Exercises 8. SEPTEMBER: 374 students received their white coats, pins, & jackets at the 39th Fall Convocation 9. FEBRUARY: Women With Heart 10. NOVEMBER: Giving Tuesday 11. APRIL: Hugh M. Gloster Celebration
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12. MAY: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Field Roundtable 13. SEPTEMBER: 39th Fall Convocation 14. SEPTEMBER: Dr. Natalie Hernandez-Green, Executive Director of the Center for Maternal Health Equity, speaking at the Georgia Reproductive & Maternal Health Justice Summit 15. MARCH: Dr. Julia Liu, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at the Cancer Moonshot Colorectal Cancer Forum held at the White House
16. DECEMBER: 3rd Annual Winter Commencement 17. JULY: MSM Alumni Dinner at the 2023 National Medical Association Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly in New Orleans 18. JUNE: First day for MD Class of 2027 19. JULY: New student welcome event
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Global Health
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The Dr. David Satcher Global Health Equity Summit
Expanding Our Global Impact “You can’t say health equity without thinking about Morehouse School of Medicine,” said Dr. Barney Graham, the founding director of the new David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute. He spoke these words at the first Dr. David Satcher Global Health Equity Summit on Sept. 14, 2023, at Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which was just one of many highlights from the past year that demonstrate how MSM’s ongoing dedication to eliminating health disparities continues to expand the institution’s global impact. The event, sponsored by MSM and global professional services firm KPMG, brought together such esteemed experts as Dr. David Satcher, 16th US Surgeon General and founding director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute; Andrew Young, the former Ambassador to the United Nations and founder of the Andrew J. Young Foundation; and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, MSM President and CEO, and others, to discuss ways to solve the problem of health equity in the US and around the world. “It was a pretty spectacular event,” said Dr. Graham of the all-day conference. At the event, Graham was named founder and director of the new Institute, which launched thanks to a $2 million donation from the Croel Family Foundation, started by Jon and Donna Croel, who also committed to help raise an additional $18 million to fund the Institute.
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researching vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19, influenza, HIV and other emerging viruses. When it comes to achieving global health equity, he said, “Our students are our primary asset.”
Throughout the summit, the experts — who came with backgrounds across health care, academia and technology — engaged in brainstorming discussions about the future of global health equity, the implications of artificial intelligence in health and advancing health equity and justice. “We know it’s going to take all of us to improve health equity,” said Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We need to eliminate health disparities.” Dr. Graham, a renowned clinical trials physician and scientist who came out of retirement to join MSM in 2022, acknowledged several students who had worked alongside him at the National Institutes of Health
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Student Training/Work Abroad With Dr. Graham’s statement about students in mind, 2023 saw opportunities for student training and work abroad also expanding, due in no small part to the students themselves, who have taken the initiative over the past two years to create a Global Health interest group. “Melissa Issa-Boube and Jenny O’Shea relentlessly sought out every member of our core team,” said Dr. Gilberte Bastien, PhD, associate director of the Satcher Global Health Equity Institute. Added Dr. Graham, “They are very organized and ambitious and have attracted almost 100 students.” “It’s an incredible illustration that when we have structures in place to support our learners, how far they can go in building up these flames of interest,” noted Dr. Bastien. Among the students taking advantage of the new opportunities and helping to expand MSM’s global research experiences is recent graduate Raedeen Russell, MD, PhD, who traveled to South Africa last summer where she spent a month working in rural clinics. Through MSM’s collaboration with Child Family Health International, fourth year medical students now can pursue this kind of internship abroad and receive an elective credit. MSM students have also recently traveled to southern India to learn about traditional Siddha medicine and
how to integrate such ancient methods into their practice of modern Western medicine. A new group of students is expected to participate in the program in Fall 2024. Dr. Bastien points out that “global” doesn’t always mean working in “some out there, far-away place that requires you to get on a plane.” MSM students have what Dr. Bastien calls “glocal” experiences right in Atlanta, where immigrant and refugee communities have settled. “We’ve really ramped up the opportunities for students to touch the globe here in Atlanta through partnerships we’ve developed and strengthened in Clarkston, Georgia,” she says. Considered “the most diverse square mile in America,” Clarkston provides MSM’s first-year medical students the chance to work with and learn about Afghan and other immigrant populations that have settled there through
a required community health course, of which Dr. Bastien is an instructor. Global Research Attendees at the Satcher Global Health Equity Summit also highlighted MSM’s advances in research around the world. “What struck me was the really powerful balance of looking back at the history of what we’ve been able to do over the past years, while also looking ahead to what we see as the potential for MSM’s continued contribution in this space,” said Dr. Bastien. Past and current projects include malaria research conducted in conjunction with the University of Ghana Medical School by Dr. Jonathan K. Stiles, PhD, who’s among the top malaria researchers in the world. His work involves studying the role of cerebral malaria and African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in brain neuropathy in an effort to develop anti-parasitic drugs to treat or prevent the diseases. Additionally, cancer and genomics research from such experts as Dr. Melissa Davis, PhD, and the international team she’s established after being awarded a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges grant, and Dr. Rick Kittles, PhD, MSM’s senior vice president for research, will add to the institution’s global research advances in tailoring cancer treatments for people with different genetic dispositions. (See Research, p. 52) “I believe the importance of diversity in genomics research cannot be overstated,” Dr. Davis said. “My goal is to ensure that MSM is at the leading edge of the technology and leadership of overcoming [genetic] bias and improving the limitations of precision medicine for underserved populations.”
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THE AUDACITY TO BECOME
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AU D A C I O U S
AU D A C I O U S As we focus on the future, Morehouse School of Medicine made significant strides toward our goals over the past year, many of which were recognized in local, national and international media. Additionally, our national and global research efforts to improve maternal health, along with the inclusion of accurate genomics for Black patients and other people of color in precision health, continued to be acknowledged and awarded impactful funding that allows us to continue our efforts to make an audacious difference in the future of health care, health equity and health justice.
What paralyzes life is lack of faith and lack of audacity. The difficulty lies not in solving problems but identifying them.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
NEWS Morehouse School of Medicine
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Impact Through Information: Media Metrics
“Allocating resources and opportunities matter for us to increase capacity and scholarships and programming to help support these students as they matriculate through,” Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, told CNN. “But also, the other 150-plus medical
18.73 million Total Journalist Reach
Number of times a link was shared, commented on or liked on social media
9,608 Total Articles
schools, beyond our four historically Black medical schools, owe it to the country to increase the diversity of the students that they train,” Montgomery Rice said, adding that having a healthcare workforce that reflects the communities served helps reduce the health inequities seen in the United States.
211,082
Total Engagement
Number of times a link was shared, commented on or liked on social media networks tracked
Since the institution’s founding, our goal has been to “ameliorate disparities in health care and focus on the health and well-being of the underserved — and especially the Black population in the state of Georgia,” said J. Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President of Health Affairs, Dean of the School of Medicine.
“We don’t have enough people being trained in obstetrics and gynecology and, again, particularly when it comes to inequities, people that look like us that can provide respectful care, that understand and have those lived experiences.” — Natalie Hernandez-Green, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Maternal Health Equity
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US Medical Schools Grapple with First Admissions Since End of Affirmative Action
“With affirmative action off the table at predominantly white institutions,
“HBCUs are less capable of funding these
historically Black
students with the kinds of scholarship dollars
colleges and
that other universities or institutions with
universities may
large endowments can,” J. Adrian Tyndall,
see an increase in
MD, MPH, Executive Vice President of Health
applications,” said
Affairs, Dean of Morehouse School of
Valerie Montgomery
Medicine. “The resources have been lopsided.”
Rice, MD, FACOG, President and CEO,
“I believe there is an abundance of untapped potential for innovation and discovery and new perspectives among the students and faculty at MSM that the world cannot afford to lose.” — Barney Graham, MD, Inaugural Director, David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute
Morehouse School
2.21 million
of Medicine.
Average Unique Visitors per Month (UVM) The sum of unique
devices visiting a publication’s domain in a month
21.25 billion Total UVM
The sum of unique devices visiting this publication’s domain in a month
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Large Grants Increase the National and Global Impact of MSM Research Through extensive national and global research efforts, Morehouse School of Medicine aims to translate discovery into health equity to achieve health justice. New funding awarded in 2023 to the Center for Maternal Health Equity and the newly launched Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine will carry the institution closer to the goals of achieving health equity on several fronts. “The last two months of 2023 were very productive in writing these major grants,” said MSM’s senior vice president for research, Rick Kittles, PhD, “because we had the expertise here, we had the focus and we were successful.”
Genomic Research: Expanding Our Global Reach Only 2 percent of current medical research in the United States today is conducted with genetic material from Black people, but Dr. Kittles and his growing team of experts are working to change that, aided by the new funding awarded in 2023. “It’s been exciting because we’ve had the resources to hire key players,” said Dr. Kittles, an epidemiologist whose focus is on prostate cancer detection and prevention in underserved communities. “Also, we have the great talent that’s already here and it’s just a matter of bringing the genomic expertise in,” he added, “so we’re expanding our research portfolio.” In September 2023, Dr. Melissa B. Davis’s Team SAMBAI (Societal, Ancestry, Molecular, and Biological Analyses of Inequalities) was shortlisted for and has since been awarded $25 million in funding from Cancer Grand Challenges (founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute) to work toward overcoming the stark racial disparities in cancer care and outcomes. With the funding, Dr. Davis and researchers from 15 institutions from South Africa, the United Kingdom and the US will recruit 40,000 African American men and women volunteers to be included in an international study focused on breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, and exploring risk factors and outcomes in terms of health equity. The volunteers’ genomic information will be included in MSM’s developing biorepository at the Genomic Institute, which aims to be the national hub for genetic information from people of African descent.
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Maternal Health: Expanding Our National Reach Two grants awarded to Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Health Equity and its executive director, Natalie D. Hernandez-Green, PhD, MPH, will pave the way for exciting developments in maternal health for Black women in the United States who are pregnant or contemplating starting a family. Black women in America are 2.3 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. And Georgia has among the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. Making things worse is a “pernicious legacy of excluding Black women from related research,” said Hernandez-Green. But with the grants and her ongoing work, she and the Maternal Health Equity center hope to achieve systemic change to improve the outlook for Black women and mothers. “It’s going to take all of us to solve this issue… at the clinical level,” she told The Washington Post. “Then we need to really change and think about what we call ‘social determinants of health,’ where you work, live, play, breathe and pray can have an effect on your health outcomes. What do I want to achieve? It’s this hairy, audacious goal, and it’s going to take all of us to be bold and stand up for what’s right for our communities. ” These grants will help: In August 2023, the National Institutes of Health selected MSM to be one of 12 recipients to share an initial $24 million in funding to create 10 Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence across the US. The Centers’ mandate will be to promote maternal health equity and to develop and evaluate innovative approaches to reduce
pregnancy-related complications and deaths. In Atlanta, MSM, in collaboration with Emory University, will launch the Center to Advance Reproductive Justice and Behavioral Health among Black Pregnant/Postpartum Women and Birthing People, to be known as CORAL, which will focus specifically on translating maternal behavioral health research and interventions into action within the communities it serves. By ensuring that Black women are included in related research, Hernandez-Green said, “CORAL will help reduce Black maternal morbidity and mortality by generating community-driven, multilayered evidence and interventions.” The grants are expected to last seven years and total an estimated $168 million. In October 2023, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, recognized MSM’s Center for Maternal Health Equity with $2.3 million in funding over five years as part of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. This important funding will go toward expanding the work of the Maternal Health Equity center and its communitybased approach for eradicating health disparities for pregnant and postpartum women in both urban and rural underserved areas, which serves as a model for other communities nationwide.
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Morehouse School of Medicine IMPACT Campaign
The World Needs More of What We Do Best Morehouse School of Medicine is proud to share that we are just over halfway to our goal in our historic $500M comprehensive campaign. Philanthropic support is advancing Education, Innovation, Capital Improvements and building our Endowment to support future emerging needs and innovative solutions. When you invest in Morehouse School of Medicine, you are increasing the number of physicians, physician assistants, researchers and public health professionals. You are building the groundwork for a new nursing program to launch in 2027. You are diversifying the clinical and scientific workforce. You are investing in critical scholarships for our students. You are helping to build a new academic and research building to allow MSM to double student enrollment and provide state-of-the-art clinical and research learning spaces for our students. You are supporting cutting-edge medical discoveries and research that are improving the health of people across Georgia, nationally and globally. You are addressing healthcare workforce shortages and providing a national footprint for MSM students to rotate through clinical specialty learning in partnership with CommonSpirit Health through the More in Common Alliance.
While Atlanta, Georgia is our home, the world is our community. As Morehouse School of Medicine approaches our 50th anniversary in 2025, we look forward to celebrating this milestone through ongoing commitment of our current donors. Thank you to all of you who have advanced our work over the years.
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We could not have made such significant progress without your confidence and your support! We also look forward to widening our circles of support through increased awareness and engagement of individuals, companies and foundations who don’t know us yet but share our commitment to advancing health equity and justice by addressing disparities and improving care. Creating a healthier, more equitable world doesn’t happen overnight. But with your help and our expertise, it’s in reach for future generations. On behalf of the MSM Office of Institutional Advancement team, please join us in our campaign journey and be part of our collective IMPACT advancing our mission of achieving health justice for all. To learn more about our IMPACT campaign, visit MSMIMPACT.com Thank you, Kandy Ferree Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement Jessie Rosenberg Vice President, Philanthropy and Comprehensive Campaign
Donor Spotlight
MSM Pays Tribute to Longtime Supporter Henry “Hank” Aaron On May 18, 2023, MSM paid tribute to legendary Major League Baseball player and longtime Morehouse School of Medicine supporter Henry “Hank” Aaron, with a ribbon cutting ceremony dedicating a new Hank Aaron Plaza on campus. Aaron, an athlete, businessman, civil rights advocate and philanthropist, and his wife Mrs. Billye Suber Aaron were “more than cherished friends of the institution — they are family,” MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice said of them following Hank Aaron’s death in 2021. The new Hank Aaron Plaza, located outside the Billye Suber Aaron Student Pavilion that a $3 million gift from the Aarons helped fund, features a newly commissioned statue of the baseball great who broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974. The on-campus event, preceded by the renaming of Atlanta’s Lee Street Bridge for the hometown hero, was attended by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other local officials as well as Dr. Montgomery Rice, who has praised Aaron for his generosity with his time, talent and counsel, saying, “He was devoted to Morehouse School of Medicine and our vision for health equity.”
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Campus Highlight
Big Names Bring Attention and Impact to MSM Community Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Convened HELP Committee Hearing at MSM with Dr. Montgomery Rice and other HBMS Leaders About How to Improve Medical Workforce Diversity and Address Shortages Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, paid a visit to Morehouse School of Medicine on May 12, 2023, for a lively roundtable discussion with MSM President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice and other leaders of Historically Black Medical Schools (HBMS). The distinguished group gathered to talk about ways of increasing diversity in the medical field and addressing the shortage of Black physicians and other health workers. The event was the first field hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), under Sanders, its new Chairman. “I don’t have to tell anybody up here, our current healthcare system is broken,” stated Sanders, who was joined by representatives from Meharry Medical College, Howard University and Charles R. Drew University, as well as MSM students. “Unbelievably, today, with a population where African Americans are about 13% of our population, about 5% of our doctors are Black.” He added that the roundtable came about after a conversation he and Dr. Montgomery Rice had a few months earlier in his Washington, D.C. office on the same subject. “I hope that what I and other Committee Members will learn from this hearing will be translated into law and will have an impact on how we provide health care to minority communities all across this country,” he said.
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Notable Donors
In its second year of partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine and the nation’s three other Historically Black Medical Schools (HBMS), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) donated $2.3 million toward MSM’s ongoing genomics research. The funding supports the creation of new tools and methods to prevent and treat disease and accelerate precision health, particularly for Black people and other people of color. The partnership began in September 2022 and continues to “allow MSM to expand our educational programs and our world-class genomics research enterprise simultaneously,” MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice said when it was first announced. Dr. Rick Kittles, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research at MSM, stated that funding from CZI “provided us the opportunity to make some strategic hires,” including that of Melissa Davis, PhD, a breast cancer geneticist who has been named the director of the institution’s newly established Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine. CZI’s Accelerate Precision Health program will award a projected $46 million total in funding, with $11.5 million going to each HBMS over five years.
The Florence C. and Harry L. English Memorial Fund and Billye Suber Aaron Morehouse School of Medicine honored baseball great and longtime MSM supporter Hank Aaron with the dedication of the Hank Aaron Bridge and Plaza, made possible through a grant from the Florence C. and Harry L. English Memorial Fund and a generous gift from Mrs. Billye Suber Aaron, Hank Aaron’s widow. The event included renaming the Lee Street Bridge, unveiling a mural and placing a statue of Mr. Aaron in the new plaza, celebrating his legacy in baseball, civil rights and philanthropy.
Croel Family Foundation MSM received a $2 million donation from the Croel Family Foundation in September to launch the new David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute and endow its founding directorship in honor of Dr. Barney Graham. The donation was announced at the inaugural Dr. David Satcher Global Health Equity Summit, which brought together leaders to discuss health equity around the world. Under the leadership of Dr. Graham, a world-renowned virologist, immunologist and one of the developers of the first COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, the institute aims to diversify the health workforce, increase student participation in global health, facilitate scientific advances in low-resource settings and develop policies to improve health equity. “We chose the Global Health Equity Institute because we need all the brains to be involved in solving problems like Dr. Graham,” Jon Croel said at the Summit. “If there are entire populations who we’re not utilizing, then I think we’re doing ourselves a disservice and slowing our own progress.” With the Croel Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Jon and Donna Croel have committed to helping raise an additional $18 million for the new institute, part of its planned $150 million endowment.
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Women with Heart Morehouse School of Medicine was thrilled to host the 12th Heart Healthy Week festivities in 2023 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The signature initiative raises awareness of heart disease risks faced by Black people and other people of color, promotes healthy lifestyles and increases community awareness about heart health and cardiovascular disease, particularly among women of color. The initiative also raises funds for student scholarships. Events included a Men’s Prayer Breakfast, featuring remarks from MSM’s Dr. Rick Kittles and Dr. David Satcher and a keynote address by former congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. More than 600 attendees arrived the next day for the Women with Heart Luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium. Keynote speaker Dr. Melissa Burroughs, a cardiologist at Wellstar Health Systems, addressed a red-dressed audience, saying, “African Americans are disproportionately affected by high blood pressure and diabetes,” which can lead to cardiovascular disease, and noting that “being overweight is not always a warning sign.” Since its founding in 2009, MSM’s Women with Heart Initiative has raised more than $2 million for scholarships that have been awarded to more than 100 MSM students.
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Deloitte Health Equity Institute: In a collaboration that focuses on addressing health inequities, particularly the lack of representation among care providers, Morehouse School of Medicine received $1.1 million from the Deloitte Health Equity Institute to advance health equity. Key initiatives include establishing a Center for Workforce Inclusion and Excellence, expanding the Center for Maternal Health Equity and developing training for culturally humble care. These efforts aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity among racially diverse women and improve overall health equity.
Alumni Spotlight
The Audacity to Pay It Forward Bonzo Reddick, MD, MPH, FAAFP MSM Class of 2002
Tiffany Brunson, PhD, JD MSM Class of 2009
Lead Health Scientist, Acting Senior Advisor for Strategy and Evaluation, Office of Science at the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dr. Tiffany Brunson earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from MSM with a concentration in Molecular Genetics. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Juris Doctorate degree in Administrative Law earned at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Dr. Brunson has served at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2010, first as an Emerging Leader Fellow followed by 12 years as a Health Scientist in the Office of Infectious Diseases. She currently serves as a Lead Health Scientist and the Acting Senior Advisor for Strategy and Evaluation within the Office of Science at the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. With over 15 years of experience in science and public health, Dr. Brunson has built expertise in the fields of scientific evaluations, legislative and policy analysis, and partnership development and outreach. In her current role, Dr. Brunson is responsible for leading the development of strategies related to laboratory science, policy, communications and diversity and equity. Her work focuses on high priority items that impact public health and requires coordination across multiple stakeholders and agencies.
Health Director for the Coastal Health District Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Dr. Bonzo Reddick joined the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in January 2023 as the District Health Director for the Coastal Health District. He is responsible for overseeing and managing DPH activities for eight counties in Southeast Georgia as well as serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the Boards of Health in those counties. Dr. Reddick is the author of “Health Equity — A Guide for Clinicians, Medical Educators and Healthcare Organizations” and was named the 2021 Georgia Family Physician of the Year by the by the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. He began serving as President of the MSM National Alumni Association in May 2024. Dr. Reddick received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Morehouse College prior to earning an MD degree from MSM. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he completed a Family Medicine residency and Master of Public Health degree, in addition to certification in interdisciplinary health disparities. “It is important for me to continue to be involved with MSM because Morehouse School of Medicine laid the foundation for a successful career for my classmates and me,” Dr. Reddick said. “MSM taught us about health equity and being community-responsive physicians years before those were in-vogue topics. MSM is the top medical school in the country in social mission, and that is what drives my medical practice.”
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Marlah Mardis, MD, DABFM MSM Class of 1991
Statewide Medical Director in the Office of Health Services Georgia Department of Corrections
Frank A. Franklin, PhD, JD, MPH, FCPP MSM Class of 1998
Dr. Marlah H. Mardis serves as Statewide Medical Director in the Office of Health Services at the Georgia Department of Corrections. She is responsible for monitoring and evaluating medical services delivered by the physical health vendor to offenders housed within the department. She also provides administrative oversight for all medical services provided to offenders within the agency and serves as the department’s medical authority. Dr. Mardis graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University. After earning a Doctor of Medicine degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, she served as the Chief Resident in Family Practice at Howard University. Dr. Mardis is board-certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She has clinical expertise in Family Medicine, Occupational Health and Correctional Health, including extensive experience managing acute and chronic diseases, handling utilization and reimbursement, and working with federal occupational health and case management. She has experience with federal and state regulatory practices and providing correctional health care according to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and the American Correctional Association (ACA) standards.
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Interim Health Commissioner City of Philadelphia Dr. Frank Franklin currently serves as the Interim Health Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia after being the city’s Deputy Health Commissioner since 2021. His career as a public health practitioner reflects a commitment to advancing population health and well-being through applied epidemiology, the law and public policy. Dr. Franklin earned his PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health after completing a Master of Public Health at MSM, as well as post-doctoral training in health policy from the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the Kline School of Law at Drexel University. “My decision to attend Morehouse School of Medicine was based on the institution’s historical legacy and impassioned commitment to developing well-trained, graduated professionals with a vision of serving marginalized Black and Brown communities,” Dr. Franklin said. “Morehouse School of Medicine was founded on that same bedrock, and the institution has unequivocally and unapologetically maintained that grounding. My experience at MSM has shown me that the gifts received in this lifetime are not mine to keep; yet, it is mine and only mine, to pass forward with the same benefits it was given.”
THE AUDACITY TO THRIVE Morehouse School of Medicine
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AU D A C I O U S
AU D A C I O U S
Morehouse School of Medicine takes enormous pride in what we’ve
everyone in our growing community.
The method of the enterprising is to plan with audacity and execute with vigor.”
With the visionary leadership of President
– Christian Nestell Bovee
accomplished in 2023. That the institution has done so much over the past year is thanks to the focus and hard work of
and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice and the executive team, the dedication of the Board of Trustees, and the unflagging contributions of the faculty, staff and students, we are forging an exciting path to the future in our audacious mission to lead the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice.
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LEADERS
Executive Leadership Team
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG President and CEO
J. Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean
Walter Douglas Executive Vice President for Operations and Business Affairs
Kandy Ferree Senior Vice President Office of Institutional Advancement
Sandra Harris-Hooker, PhD Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Innovation
Dorian Harriston, MA Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Rick Kittles, PhD Senior Vice President for Research
Cindy Lubitz Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer
Veronica Mallett, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of More in Common Alliance
Creshema Murray, PhD Vice President and Chief of Staff
Katherine Napier, DBA, CPA, MBA, CISA, CIA Senior Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer
Michael Rambert, JD General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Walter Conwell, MD, MBA Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development
Taya Jackson Scott, EdD Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
David Hefner, EdD Vice President, Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness
Alecia M. Bell, JD, MPH, CHPC Chief Compliance Officer
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Board of Trustees
Arthur R. Collins Chairman of the Board Managing Partner, theGROUP
Susan Grant Vice Chair of the Board Retired, Executive Vice President of CNN News Services
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD President and CEO, Morehouse School of Medicine
John Whyte, MD, MPH Chief Medical Officer, WebMD
Javarro (Jay) Edwards President, JME Group
Camille Davis-Williams, MD, FACOG Greater Atlanta Women’s Healthcare
Aaron D. Dent Managing Director & Chief Procurement Officer, Tishman Speyer
Joy Fitzgerald Retired President & CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority
Lawrence V. Jackson Chairman, SourceMark LLC
Douglas Love, Esq President and CEO, Annexon Biosciences
Thomas N. Malone, MD Private Practice Physician, OB/GYN
Glenn W. Mitchell, III Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
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Sylvester McRae, MD Assistant Professor, Director of St. Francis OBGYN Physician Partners
Woodrow W. McWilliams III, MD John B. Amos Cancer Center, Radiology and Oncology
Kimberly Evans Paige Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, BET Networks and Live Events
Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA President, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation
Marvin O’Quinn, BSc, MBA, PhD President/Chief Operations Officer, CommonSpirit Health
Carey Roth Bayer, EdD, MEd, BSN, RN, CSE Professor, Community Health and Preventive Medicine (Faculty Representative)
Neeraj Tolmare Global Chief Information Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Lisa LeCointe-Cephas, Esq. Partner, Compliance & Investigations Global Co-Chair of Life Sciences Sector
Russell Stokes Senior Vice President of GE; President & CEO, GE Power Portfolio
David A. Thomas, PhD President, Morehouse College
Frank Jones, MD, MPH President MSMNAA 2022-2024 Morehouse School of Medicine MD Class of 1991
Sonya Randolph Morehouse School of Medicine Student Government Association President (Student Representative)
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From the Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Katherine Napier, DBA, CPA, MBA, CISA, CIA
Morehouse School of Medicine is dedicated to its students and to training healthcare professionals who will serve both Georgia and the entire nation. During the academic year 2022-2023, we experienced an increase in enrollment with a total Fall enrollment of 904 students, a 16% increase over the prior academic year. We realized growth in enrollment with the introduction of the Online Master of Science program, the Master of Science in Health Informatics program, and the Accelerated Master of Science in Medical Sciences program. We are committed to investing in our students and reducing student educational debt. During fiscal year 2023, we awarded $10.0 million in scholarships to our students. Our intent is to keep student debt as low as possible. To help with this effort Morehouse School of Medicine has not increased tuition rates in seven years since Academic Year 2014-2015. As we grow our class size, Morehouse School of Medicine continues to invest in faculty and staff to support our students and our mission. We ended the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2023 with a faculty and staff headcount of 1,445.
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Morehouse School of Medicine continues to invest in capital resources as we focus on our campus masterplan to support our mission. We continued the revitalization of our campus with renovations of the Hugh Gloster Building, the Animal Lab, the BSL3 Lab, and the Medical Education Building. We also began construction on the new Calvin Smyre Academic Conference Center. We are modernizing and expanding our campus to meet the needs of our expanded class size. We closed fiscal year 2023 in strong financial health, with an increase in our financial position of $21.5 million, adding to total net assets of $288.5 million, with 64% representing net assets with donor restrictions and 36% representing net assets without donor restrictions. MSM’s investment portfolio remains strong with $138.4 million in investments at fair market value. The school’s endowment distribution policy smooths the impact of an annual volatile capital market by providing a distribution of up to 5% of the fair market value of the endowment using a three-year moving average. Based on the investment policy, the endowment distribution amounted to $4.9 million during fiscal year 2023,
which supports research capacity building, student scholarships, and chair packages. We continue to focus on diversifying revenue streams. Proportionally, the highest portion of revenue consists of 29.5% in federal, state, and local revenue, 20.9% in private gifts, grants and contract revenue, 8.5% in net tuition and fees revenue, and 8.4% in faculty practice plan revenue. Revenue diversification has enabled MSM to remain financially stable despite adverse economic challenges, as the institution is not heavily dependent on tuition and fees. Our research portfolio remains strong as our researchers address important challenges that have societal impact with research initiatives with the National Institute of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Office of Minority Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Science Foundation to name a few. Our financial plan focuses on strategic initiatives, maintaining and enhancing the school’s financial health, forming strategic partnerships, and bolstering financial stability while advancing our mission of “Leading
the Creation and Advancement of Health Equity to Achieve Health Justice.” Overall, MSM concluded fiscal year 2023 in a robust financial position. The school’s continued financial stability and disciplined fiscal approach have ensured MSM’s enduring financial strength. Future financial success depends on our commitment to fulfilling the strategic plan’s vision, goals, and objectives. As our current strategic plan concludes, we have begun developing a new three-year strategic plan. Investments from donors and federal, state, and local governments will continue to strengthen MSM’s capabilities in delivering excellent education, research, healthcare, and community partnerships. Our ongoing dedication to operational excellence will enable MSM to implement sound financial policies and practices that yield positive outcomes for the entire MSM community. Katherine Napier, EDB, CPA, MBA, CISA, CIA Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
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Morehouse School of Medicine, Inc., and Affiliate Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
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Morehouse School of Medicine, Inc., and Affiliate Consolidated Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets
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FY 2023 REVENUES Total Revenue Fiscal Year 2023
Federal grants and contracts 29.2%
State grants and contracts 0.1%
Private gifts, grants, and contracts 20.9% Other Sources 1.4%
Local grants and contracts 0.2%
Hospital Affiliates 11.6% Investment Income 4.7% Hospital charitable contributions 4.0% State appropriations 11.2%
Faculty practice plan, net 8.3%
Tuition and fees, net of student aid 8.5%
FY 2023 EXPENDITURES by Natural Classification 2023 Other student aid 3.8% Miscellaneous expense 2.8% Maintenance and repairs 2.0%
Communication and information 1.6%
Faculty practice plan 10.2%
Interest expense 0.0%
Supplies 2.5%
Salaries 43.5%
Affiliation and subcontracts 5.2%
Travel, training and meals 2.8%
Equipment lease and rental 0.1%
Professional fees 0.0% Contribution fees 0.2% Utilities 0.6%
Depreciation and amortization 2.4%
Independent contractors ad consultants 10.8%
Payroll taxes and employee benefits 11.6%
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FY 2023 ASSETS Total Assets Fiscal Year 2023 Right-of-use 7.3% Other assets 1.0%
Property and equipment, net 31.5%
Investments at fair value 37.8%
Cash and cash equivalents 1.6% Restricted cash and cash equivalents 8.1% Accounts receivable 12.7%
FY 2023 LIABILITIES Total Liabilities Fiscal Year 2023 Government advances for student loans 0.4%
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 14.6%
Deferred revenue and refundable advances 34.0%
Accounts payable 14.5%
Operating lease liabilities 36.5%
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MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
AU D A C I O U S To be brave, daring, original, courageous, adventurous, undaunted.
We are Morehouse School of Medicine. And we work, live and care audaciously.
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Morehouse School of Medicine | 720 Westview Drive SW | Atlanta, GA 30310 74
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www.msm.edu