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NASHVILLE, Tenn. Twenty-one participant partners from across the United States joined about 400 of their fellow All of Us Research Program (AoURP) consortium members for two full days of learning, networking and honest conversations about this historic effort at the AoURP Face to Face Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland from October 28 through 30, 2019.  

In 1999 Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced the establishment of a formal alliance to enhance the educational, scientific and clinical programs at and between both institutions.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Pauleatha Diggs wants to make a difference. Her journey into the healthcare field began with a desire to impact health disparities. “I’ve been drawn to specialties in medicine that have significant health disparities and have gaps in connecting with underrepresented groups,” she said. That ambition pushed her to study medical areas where inequality exists, to address those issues and promote positive change.  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. For the past two years, Faith & Health Collaborative has focused on supporting local faith leaders with Positive Youth Development programming, with the goal of improving the health of the greater community.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection. It’s usually harmless and often goes away on its own. In some cases, however, it can lead to cancer in both men and women. This information, despite its importance, isn’t well known among African American men. Many are unaware of HPV, its relationship with cancer or the importance of getting vaccinated.

Photo submitted Jacquelyn S. Favours Claudia Barajas, and Luis Sura welcome attendees to Fe Y Salud – Building Strong Families.  

Photo by Matt Schorr Former U.S. Surgeon General and past Meharry Medical College President David Satcher, MD, PhD speaks at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.   NASHVILLE, Tenn. “George W. Bush really loved BB King,” David Satcher, MD, PhD quipped.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Jessica Jones, MS, the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance’s (MVA) newest Program Manager, says her path was driven almost entirely by research. “It was the research component that drove me,” she said, “and the projects happened to be centered around preventative health.”  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Anastasia Wright wants to travel. She wants to visit other communities, other regions, even other countries as she pursues a career in global health. She hopes to make an impact wherever she goes, but she’s also quick to note that she wants to learn from every place she visits. In short, referencing a well-known science fiction series, she says, “I want to be my own Doctor Who.”  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (MVA) wrapped up its Summer Research Lunch & Learn series on August 21, 2019, with a presentation from Jennifer Erves, PhD, MPH, MAEd, MS, CHES about manuscript writing and publishing. “Writers write every day,” Erves said, challenging those gathered in the MVA’s large conference room. “Have you written anything today?”