On Saturday, April 16, the Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees conferred the Office of the President upon James E. K. Hildreth, PhD, MD, during a formal Investiture Ceremony at Temple Church in Nashville. Hildreth, who began his tenure as the school’s 12th president on July 1, 2015, also serves as the chief executive officer for the 140-year-old college that offers degree programs in medicine, dentistry and graduate studies/research.
Delegates from academic institutions across the world attended the ceremony. Noteworthy participants included the Honorable James H. Cooper, U.S. Representative, 5th Congressional District; Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, FACOEM, representing Governor Bill Haslam; the Honorable Brenda Gilmore, State Representative, 54th District; and Debbie Dale Mason on behalf of Mayor Megan Barry. Those making presentations included Sir Andrew McMichael, professor of Molecular Medicine and group head Nuffield Department of Medicine from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England; Valerie Montgomery-Rice, MD, president and dean of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta; and Rev. Kim Cape, DMin, general secretary of the United Methodist Church and member of Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees.
Hildreth was introduced by Board of Trustees Chairman and Meharry alumnus Frank S. Royal, MD, (Class of ‘68). During the ceremony, Hildreth was presented the seal, the mace and the medallion, official symbols of the office of the president. He then gave an inaugural address providing an overview of his dynamic vision for Meharry, which includes expanding the campus footprint, increasing enrollment in all three schools, enhancing technology, adding new academic programs, and positioning the College for its sesquicentennial in 2026.
“The future is now, and Meharry is just nimble enough to evolve its culture and transform its operations for the future so more students who support our mission can come, learn, and go out and serve,” said President Hildreth.
A full week of activities – including a Faith Walk, a Scientific Discovery Day, a Gospel Concert featuring Kim Burrell and a President’s Scholarship Golf Tournament – culminated with an Inauguration scholarship gala event featuring television star Anthony Anderson of ABC’s “Blackish.”
Scholarship Goal
Dollars raised for scholarships are part of a $75 million campaign goal. Initial efforts to reach this historic scholarship objective have already begun. Frank S. Royal, Sr., MD, and Henry Moses, executive director of the Meharry National Alumni Association and professor emeritus of Biochemistry, have each committed scholarship gifts of $1 million.
With a shortage of physicians nationwide, the need for a diverse population of healthcare professionals and researchers is even greater, calling further attention to the sharp decline in the number of black men enrolled in medical school. Hildreth has dedicated his Inauguration to raising scholarship funds for any student interested in upholding Meharry’s mission. Today, the historically black academic health science center has trained thousands of health professionals who answer the call to serve in rural and urban communities with the greatest need. More than 80 percent of Meharry Medical College alumni provide healthcare services to the nation’s most vulnerable communities.
Dr. Hildreth
In 1979, Hildreth received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard University magna cum laude. A Rhodes Scholar, he earned his doctorate in immunology from the University of Oxford in England in 1982; and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1987. He is a renowned HIV/AIDS researcher and the recipient of numerous awards including the NIH Pioneer Award.
Hildreth is a member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. Hildreth also serves on the Harvard University Board of Overseers and the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse at the NIH. An Arkansas native, he also has been inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. Hildreth has been married to his wife, Phyllis Drennon King, for 35 years. They have two children: Sophia, a captain and attorney in the U.S. Army, and James, a senior at the University of Oregon.
Immediately prior to becoming Meharry’s president, Hildreth served as dean at the University of California Davis College of Biological Sciences, where he made significant contributions to the university’s fundraising efforts and research programs.
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