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MSM Celebrates 50 Years of Shaping the Future of Health Equity

Historically Black medical school is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists and public health professionals

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 13, 2025 â€“ ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine (MSM), a private historically Black medical school and one of the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, launches a year-long celebration marking five decades of advancing health equity.

"From our founding in 1975 as a two-year medical education program to the world-renowned institution that we are today, ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine has played a pivotal role in reshaping health care, education and research," said MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG. "As we celebrate the impact that MSM has made locally, nationally and globally over the past 50 years, we look toward the future with a reaffirmed commitment to excellence, innovation and service."

Under visionary leadership, including founding dean Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, who later served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, MSM has grown to encompass 14 advanced degree programs and 17 research centers and institutes. Nearly 1,900 physicians have graduated from MSM, with approximately 60% choosing to practice in Georgia, significantly impacting healthcare access in underserved communities.

The institution will commemorate its anniversary through several signature events and the public is invited to join the celebration throughout the year at the following:

• • Thursday, January 23 at 9 a.m. | ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine
• • Tuesday, February 4 at 7 a.m. | College Football Hall of Fame
• • Wednesday, February 5 at 11 a.m. | Georgia Aquarium
• • Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m. | Mercedes Benz Stadium
• • Monday, August 18 | Capital City Golf Club Brookhaven
•  (MACC)
  • More information to follow

The initial idea for what became ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine can be traced to Atlanta internal medicine physician Dr. Louis Brown, who suggested the creation of a new medical school to the presidents of the Atlanta University Center schools in 1969. With support from the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, a feasibility study was conducted to investigate the concept. At the time, ´óÏó´«Ã½ College was the second-largest producer of African Americans pursuing medical degrees and its president, Dr. Hugh M. Gloster, expressed interest in starting a medical school there.

´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine opened its doors at a single trailer on the campus of ´óÏó´«Ã½ College in the summer of 1978 with an inaugural class of 24 students in its two-year basic medical sciences program. Students who completed the program earned the ability to transfer to four-year institutions to complete their education. The medical school was incorporated in Georgia in 1980, officially became an independent institution in 1981 and established a four-year medical school as ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine in 1985.

To learn more about ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine, please visit MSM.edu.

About ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine

Founded in 1975, ´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists and public health professionals. An independent and private historically Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission – leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master’s degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit MSM.edu or call 404-752-1500.

Contact

Jamille Bradfield
Director, External Communications and Media Relations
´óÏó´«Ã½ School of Medicine
jbradfield@msm.edu