TriStar Health, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, today announced a $600,000 donation to Meharry Medical College to provide paid internship and scholarship opportunities for graduate students in the School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS) over four years. The investment is part of $10 million HCA Healthcare has committed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).
“We are pleased to continue our support of Meharry Medical College and provide further educational opportunities for graduate students through scholarships and internships. Our organization is committed to increasing access to healthcare careers throughout the Middle Tennessee region.”
Mitch Edgeworth, president, HCA Healthcare TriStar division
Meharry Medical College is one of the oldest and largest historically Black educational and health science centers in the United States. In addition to the School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College also includes the School of Dentistry, the Graduate School, and the School of Applied Computing Science. Founded in 2021, Meharry’s SACS offers master’s and doctoral degrees in data science and biomedical data science.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Meharry Medical College, a long-standing and well-respected institution here in Nashville, to provide young professionals with the opportunity to pursue fulfilling careers in healthcare and data science,” said Shelley Neal, chief diversity officer, HCA Healthcare.
The donation will support paid internships for SACS students at Meharry throughout the year. High-achieving students will be nominated by SACS faculty for internships with HCA Healthcare’s Information Technology Group (ITG). The donation will also be used to provide scholarships for students enrolled in Meharry’s SACS graduate data science degree program. Both scholars and interns will have access to recruiting events, leadership development opportunities throughout the year, and guest lectures.
“HCA Healthcare’s partnership with TriStar Health is a testament to the importance of educating data science students at Meharry. Thanks to HCA Healthcare’s support, we will be able to educate even more students to apply artificial intelligence ethically to improve healthcare, without being limited by algorithms or societal bias.”
Meharry President James E. K. Hildreth, M.D.
“I have met many talented students from diverse backgrounds for whom the only barrier to improving healthcare through data is the cost of their degree,” said Dr. Fortune S. Mhlanga, dean of the School of Applied and Computing Sciences. “This scholarship and internship support from a global leader in healthcare will position these talented students for success.”
HCA Healthcare and TriStar Health have a longstanding relationship, with many Meharry students interning at TriStar Health hospitals. HCA Healthcare executives serve on Meharry’s Board of Trustees. Additionally, TriStar Health hosts Meharry medical students during their third-year clinical residency at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center for family medicine and TriStar Skyline Medical Center for emergency medicine.
HCA Healthcare has a history of partnering with higher education institutions across the country to enhance diversity in the organization’s talent pipeline. These partnerships include:
About HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Health:
TriStar Health is one of the region’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare providers, consisting of 10 hospitals, 21 imaging centers, 93 clinics, 5 freestanding emergency rooms, 8 ambulatory surgery centers, 21 CareNow® urgent care centers, and 10 medical parks. TriStar Health delivers high-quality care while leveraging advances in clinical technology and innovative procedures. The TriStar Health network performed more than 900,000 medical consultations last year, including 478,000 emergency room visits, 93,000 hospitalizations, and 8,000 births. The network is supported by more than 2,400 physicians and 10,000 employees, including more than 2,800 nurses, who are committed above all to caring for and improving human lives. TriStar Health is a subsidiary of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare service providers. For more information, visit TriStarHealth.com.
