Just hours after publicly launching a $500 million fundraising campaign to train more Black doctors and bolster its infrastructure, Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, announced it had already secured $400 million in early commitments, putting the school within striking distance of its goal.
The campaign, dubbed “Campaign 150” in honor of the school’s 150th anniversary, is among the most ambitious in the college’s history. It aims to fund scholarships, modernize research facilities, support new program initiatives, provide faculty development and strengthen the school’s endowment. Organizers say the effort is designed to ensure Meharry remains a critical pipeline for diverse health care leaders for generations to come.
In a statement, James E.K. Hildreth, MD, Meharry’s president and chief executive, called the early response “transformative.”
“It means greater access to scholarships, more support for academic and clinical training, reduced debt burdens, and enhanced infrastructure that empowers every student to fulfill their calling,” Dr. Hildreth said. “Those who invest in us are not just changing individual lives — they are uplifting those underserved communities that need our graduates most.”
The rapid fundraising success signals strong institutional and philanthropic support for Meharry’s mission at a time when diversity in medicine remains a pressing national issue. Although Black people make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, only 5.7 percent of physicians identify as Black, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Meharry, founded in 1876, has long been a cornerstone of medical education for Black students. It is one of the nation’s oldest private historically Black medical schools and a leading producer of Black physicians, dentists and biomedical scientists.
According to The Tennessean, approximately $20 million of the funds will be directed toward scholarships for the School of Dentistry — the only dental program at a historically Black college or university in the Southeast.
Additional funding will support academic and clinical training programs, with a focus on updating infrastructure and reducing student loan debt.
Juan A. McGruder, senior vice president for institutional advancement, framed the campaign as a broader statement on the future of equitable health care.
“This $500 million campaign is more than a fundraising effort,” Dr. McGruder said. “It’s a declaration of our unwavering commitment to health equity, to the education of Black physicians and scientists, and to the communities that need us most.”
He added: “At this pivotal moment in history, we are investing not just in our historic institution, but in the future of medicine, where diversity, access, and excellence are no longer aspirations — they are the standard.”
The remaining $100 million of the goal is expected to be raised from a mix of private donors, corporate partners and foundations in the coming months.