courtesy of Authority Health
Meharry Medical College is forging a powerful new partnership with Authority Health, offering third-year medical students a unique chance to gain hands-on experience in family medicine rotations, right in the heart of Detroit a city known for its diverse and underserved communities. This collaboration will provide students with exposure to both inpatient and outpatient care, allowing them to refine their clinical skills while engaging with patients from various backgrounds. By immersing students in real-world settings, this partnership not only enhances their education but also fosters a deep understanding of the healthcare challenges faced by urban populations, preparing them to make a lasting impact in their future careers.
The new partnership between Authority Health and Meharry Medical College strengthens the college’s growing presence in Detroit, building on existing rotations at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital. This collaboration not only expands Meharry’s educational reach but also highlights a shared commitment to advancing medical education and improving healthcare access in underserved communities.
Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, stands as the nation’s largest private, independent historically Black academic health sciences center, committed to educating minority and underserved health professionals. Known for its nurturing educational programs and emerging leadership in health disparities research, Meharry continues to make significant strides in providing culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services. The college’s dedication to diversity is evident in its prominent role in shaping the nation’s healthcare workforce, consistently ranking as a top educator of African Americans with M.D., D.D.S., and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical sciences, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
The initiative aims to equip students with essential skills and knowledge, emphasizing hands-on training in a safe healthcare setting. According to Susanne Tropez-Sims, professor emeritus and associate dean of clinical affiliations at Meharry Medical College, this partnership serves a critical mission.
Susanne Tropez-Sims, professor emeritus and associate dean of clinical affiliations at Meharry Medical College highlighted Meharry is proud to partner with Authority Health to expand the mission by sending students to Detroit in service to underserved and minority populations.
“As one of the nation’s largest producers of minority health care providers, Meharry looks for ways to serve marginalized and underserved communities in our home state of Tennessee and around the world, and this partnership will assist in training our medical students through treating numerous illnesses and preventing those diseases affecting all cultures and populations,” Tropez-Sim said.
“Our desire is that the students who train at Authority Health will decide to return and provide care to improve the health outcomes for the people of Detroit.”
As the second-largest teaching health center in the nation, Authority Health aims to strengthen the healthcare safety net across Detroit and Wayne County.
The partnership focuses on integrating community health and improving health equity through innovative patient care. During their four-week rotations, students will engage in both inpatient and outpatient family medicine, honing their interview and physical examination skills, and learning to develop comprehensive diagnoses. The program also emphasizes the goals of health promotion and disease prevention, highlighting the importance of evidence-based practices in patient care.
In addition to clinical experience, students will undertake an academic course titled “What is family medicine and why do we need more family medicine physicians?” This valuable component will equip them with insights into health access challenges faced in urban and rural areas, preparing them for the realities of primary care.
Students will primarily train at the Popoff Family Health Center, the main site for Authority Health’s family medicine rotations. As they embark on this journey, there is hope that many will return to serve the Detroit community, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for its residents.
Founded in 2004, Authority Health has become a cornerstone in addressing the health needs of Detroit’s uninsured and underinsured populations. With a mission to improve the health of residents across the city, Wayne County, and beyond, Authority Health collaborates with academic, government, and nonprofit partners to tackle pressing issues such as chronic disease prevention, integrated care, and the social drivers of health. As the nation’s second-largest primary care Graduate Medical Education Teaching Health Center, it plays a pivotal role in training future physicians while also providing critical services through four outpatient centers, including two school-based health clinics.
Loretta V. Bush, president and CEO of Authority Health, emphasized as the second largest teaching health center in the nation, Authority Health’s partnership with Meharry Medical College will strengthen the health care safety net in Detroit, Wayne County and other underserved communities.
“We are excited about the transformative impact this collaboration will have by providing Meharry students with invaluable firsthand experience provided by precepting physicians with a passion for delivering high quality compassionate care in underserved communities,” Bush said.
“At Authority Health, our vision for graduate medical education emphasizes preparing residents and faculty for the future of health care—integrating community and population health with a strong commitment to improving health equity through innovative patient care.”
This ongoing rotation will be based at Popoff Family Health Center, the main training site for the Authority Health Centers family medicine Rotation. For more information, contact Audrey Mixon, clinical practice manager, Amixon-po@authorityhealth.org.
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