Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)–Officials from Meharry Medical College say Meharry was not consulted nor aware of Nashville General Hospital’s plan preliminary plans for a potential future MetroCenter hospital.
Meharry President and CEO Dr. James E. K. Hildreth released the following statement Wednesday:
My Fellow Meharrians,
You may have heard that Nashville General Hospital has released preliminary plans to build a new hospital on Mainstream Drive in Nashville. Please be aware that Meharry was not consulted nor aware of these plans until they were released. This is disappointing, as Nashville General is housed in our hospital on our campus and has been staffed by Meharry faculty and residents for 25 years.
This new proposal is the latest chapter in a long public conversation about the future of Nashville General and quality indigent care in this city. Because of the consistently low patient census and other administrative decisions by hospital leadership, Meharry long ago recognized the need to partner with other hospitals to supplement the training that our students and residents receive at Nashville General. Those relationships are very strong and will ensure that our training programs at Meharry continue seamlessly, regardless of what occurs at Nashville General.
Meharry Medical College has never wavered from our mission to serve the people of Nashville. Since our founding in 1876, we have proudly educated tens of thousands of physicians, dentists and researchers who today work in Nashville and around the world. We welcomed Nashville General onto our campus when the city was in need of a home for its hospital in 1998. Even in the darkest days of the pandemic, we ensured consistent, quality care for the patients of Nashville General, while also serving as the city’s primary partner for COVID-19 response, treating more than 400,000 residents at three mobile testing sites and in community and church settings.
Meharry is currently in negotiations with Nashville Mayor John Cooper about our ongoing relationship with the city, and we look forward to hearing his position on these new plans for Nashville General and his priorities for strengthening the future of health equity and medical education in Nashville. We will be sure to keep you updated on those conversations and any other developments in the coming days.
Thank you for your continued support of Meharry Medical College.
Sincerely,
James E.K. Hildreth Sr., Ph.D., M.D.
President and CEO
