HR154: HR154 Morehouse School of Medicine; 50th anniversary; recognize

25 LC 112 2800 House Resolution 154 By: Representatives Parrish of the 158th, Burns of the 159th, Hugley of the 141st, Park of the 107th, Jones of the 47th, and others A RESOLUTION Commending Morehouse School of Medicine upon its 50th anniversa ry; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, Dr. Louis Brown, an internal medicine physician in Atlanta, proposed the idea3 for a new medical school to the presidents of the Atlanta University Center schools in 1969;4 and5 WHEREAS, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation supported a feasibility study to investigate the6 idea for a new medical school, and then Morehouse College President Dr. Hugh M. Gloster7 expressed interest in establishing a medical school at the college; and8 WHEREAS, in 1975, Morehouse College recruited Dr. Louis W. Sull ivan, a Morehouse9 graduate, to serve as the first president and academic dean of the Medical Education Program10 at Morehouse College, with a vision to diversify the healthcare workforce and provide11 primary healthcare in underserved rural and urban communities; and12 WHEREAS, in 1977, the State of Georgia appropriated $1 million as a state operating grant13 to support the operations of the new program at Morehouse College; and14 H. R. 154 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2800 WHEREAS, Morehouse School of Medicine began in a single trailer on the campus of15 Morehouse College in the summer of 1978 with an inaugural class of 24 students in its16 two-year medical sciences program, allowing students to transfer to four-year institutions to17 complete their education; and18 WHEREAS, the medical school was incorporated in Georgia in 1980, officially became an19 independent institution in 1981, and established a four-year medical school in 1985 as the20 Morehouse School of Medicine; and21 WHEREAS, 3,283 students, including 1,867 physicians, have gradu ated from Morehouse22 School of Medicine, and approximately 60 percent of the MD graduates who have completed23 residency are practicing in Georgia; and24 WHEREAS, Morehouse School of Medicine has significantly expande d its physical25 footprint, academic programs, research initiatives, and physici an class size under the26 leadership of its first and only woman President and CEO, Dr. V alerie Montgomery Rice;27 and28 WHEREAS, it is abundantly proper and fitting that the accomplis hments of this29 distinguished Georgia institution be appropriately recognized o n the occasion of its 50th30 anniversary.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that32 the members of this body commend Morehouse School of Medicine u pon its 50th33 anniversary celebration in the S tate of Georgi a, without which students would not have34 access to quality education, research would not have been conducted, and healthcare access35 would not have expanded as broadly across the state.36 H. R. 154 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2800 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized37 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to38 Morehouse School of Medicine.39 H. R. 154 - 3 -