By Nathaniel Luce
Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Meharry Medical College today announced a dual degree program in management and medicine for students at Meharry. Participating students will earn their Doctor of Medicine from Meharry and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt in 5 years.
“Healthcare professionals increasingly need the tools of business to improve healthcare outcomes,” said Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Dean M. Eric Johnson. “We are delighted to partner with Meharry to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders.”
Dual degree students will spend their first 3 years at Meharry and will be able to apply to the Owen Graduate School of Management in their third year. Enrolled students will start the Vanderbilt MBA program in their fourth year and will be registered as full-time MBA students for 3 consecutive semesters to earn their degree after the fall semester of their fifth year. They will return to Meharry for the spring semester in their fifth year to complete their medical degree.
“By partnering with the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, our students will gain an opportunity to receive business training necessary to run a successful practice or enter into hospital administration,” said Meharry School of Medicine Interim Dean Dr. Digna Forbes. “This could ultimately diversify the pipeline of applicants for executive-level health care roles, which directly aligns with Meharry’s mission to diversify the nation’s health care workforce.”
While students are enrolled at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, federal financial assistance is available through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Vanderbilt University Financial Aid office. All Vanderbilt MBA applications are considered for merit-based scholarship.
About the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management opened its doors in 1969 to 10 students and 10 faculty members in a former funeral home. Today, the Owen School enrolls approximately 350 degree-seeking students each year and is among the top business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The school is widely recognized for its challenging academics, stimulating and innovative research environment, strong student to faculty ratio and a spirit of teamwork. The school was renamed in 1977 in honor of Lulu and Ralph “Peck” Owen, former chairman of American Express.
About Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically Black academic health sciences center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church-related institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Meharry is a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. Visit www.mmc.edu to learn more.
