A historic partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health, More in Common Alliance is aimed at addressing the underlying causes of health inequities, including the lack of representation among care providers.
More in 2024! Not Just a Motto … It’s a Movement.
In January, the More in Common Alliance (MiCA) adopted a new motto: More in 2024! This creed reflects acceptance of the challenge presented by the partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health: to advance health equity and justice and improve the health of the people we serve – especially those who are vulnerable. With this worthwhile charge guiding our ministry, we recognized that maintaining the current state of health care would not suffice. We realized that we had to do More in 2024!
Over the first six months of this year, we partnered with CommonSpirit hospitals for a tour of engagements promoting MiCA’s UME and GME initiatives. These events served two purposes. First, they announced the presence of the partnership and its impact on health equity in the community. Second, they allowed us to identify and connect with local partners who could collaborate and support our ongoing efforts. These successful events, recapped below, could not have happened without commitment from our hospital partners.
CHI Memorial in Chattanooga, TN – February 2024
The year started off with a bang in Chattanooga, TN with our UME partner, CHI Memorial. The event was highlighted by a welcome address from Mayor Tim Kelly and Dr. Lee Jackson, President, CHI Memorial. Other speakers included Dr. Marijka Grey and our own Drs. Veronica Mallett and Adrian Tyndall. Our special honoree was Dr. Roy Keith, former President of Morehouse College and mentor to many men who went on to complete their MD at Morehouse School of Medicine. The energy in the room was palpable. See for yourself in our recap video.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Bremerton, WA – February 2024
Two weeks after the successful event in Chattanooga, the UME team flew across the country to host an event with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, our third with this Pacific Northwest partner. Held in beautiful Bremerton, WA at the Marvin Williams Recreation Center, the event was highlighted by several interactive stations run by local students and supervised by Drs. Clark and Lockhart from Morehouse School of Medicine. The facilities were transformed into an inspirational oasis for attendees determined to achieve health equity.
CHI Saint Vincent in Hot Springs, AR – March 2024
Not to be outdone by the UME team executing successful back-to-back events, March was time for the GME team to showcase their advances in the fight against health inequities. Hot Springs, AR was the site showcasing Morehouse School of Medicine residents already in action, but the visit began in Little Rock with a private tour of the historic Mosaic Templars Museum. The tour shared a robust history of Black Americans in Arkansas, helping to strengthen our resolve to have an impact on the health of Arkansans.
The next day hospital officers, local partners, elected officials, media, residents, and the MiCA team packed a room to celebrate the partnership and discuss the future of health care in Arkansas. Featured speakers included Dr. Rhonda Mattox, President of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, Market President Chad Aduddell, and residents Drs. Black and Potts. Check out a video summaryof this event.
Dignity Health Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, CA – April 2024
The final event for the first half of 2024 found the GME team in Bakersfield, CA to announce our partnership with Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and the inaugural residency program slated to begin in July 2025. The trip began with a dinner with the Kern Community College District and its potential pathways program, poised to serve as a pipeline for local students to attend Morehouse School of Medicine.
The next day saw a packed house of community members energized by the prospect of improving the health of the residents of Kern County. The event was highlighted by the announcement of a one-million-dollar donation to the More in Common Alliance from Kern Family Health Care. The donation was presented by Emily Duran and accepted by BMH President Ken Keller and MiCA CAO Dr. Veronica Mallett.Watch a video summaryof the event.
Moving Forward … and Achieving More!
We understand that attempting to achieve health equity is not a unique proposition. We also understand that without it, communities continue to suffer unnecessarily under the strain of preventable and treatable conditions. Additionally, it has been estimated that the lack of health equity costs as much as $350B per year. The partnership created by Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health is the first of its kind and poised to create a sustainable model of health education for generations to come. It is truly how we can and will do More in 2024!
Stakeholder Spotlight: Veronica T. Mallett, MD, MMM
Mac Anderson stated, “Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference.” This quote accurately describes More in Common Alliance leader, Dr. Veronica Mallett. Intelligent, bold yet unassuming, powerful while empowering, steadfast, humble, and driven are just a few of the observations about Dr. Mallett from her colleagues, students, and patients. Recently, she took time to share her thoughts about MiCA, its mission, direction, and future.
What impact do you think the More in Common Alliance will have on health equity?
Dr. Mallett: The strength of this transformational partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and CommonSpirit Health (CSH), and the alignment focused on diversifying the health care workforce will deliver health equity by increasing representation and giving those persons underrepresented in medicine a chance to receive care by someone who understands their lived experience.
How do you define health equity and what are the potential implications of achieving it?
Dr. Mallett: At MSM, we define health equity as giving people what they need, when they need it, in the amount they need it. I like the simplicity of this definition. It is clear, relatable, and easily envisioned by all.
Do you see the partnership between MSM and CSH setting a new model for health education and training?
Dr. Mallett: We know that the completion of training in graduate medical education is a key and necessary component of realizing the impact of this partnership. So, through CommonSpirit hospitals we are starting what will be a minimum of ten residency programs in the next five years, a phenomenal feat for any institution. The goal of simultaneously creating four regional medical campuses outside of the home state in partnership with the largest non-profit health system is a first.
If a student was considering continuing their medical education at Morehouse School of Medicine, how would you compel them to choose MSM?
Dr. Mallett: I think that the answer will differ for each of the communities where we will have regional medical campuses. For the students from Chattanooga, it is a chance to stay close to home and learn in an environment of presumed competence. For those from Washington State, it is a chance to renew and expand the diverse health care workforce serving the historically marginalized communities. For Bakersfield, it is a chance to change the trajectory of those sons and daughters of agricultural and energy workers, so the health care worker shortage is improved and eventually eliminated. For all students, it is a chance to be seen, valued, and supported for the diverse perspectives, culture languages, and ideas they bring.
What's the most challenging component of your role at the More in Common Alliance?
Dr. Mallett: This is a challenging question as I straddle two very diverse organizations who are aligned in mission and purpose but differ greatly in size, mission, budget, and more. What drives me in this endeavor is the mission and its legacy-leaving impact. As a practicing clinician until 2018, I keep in mind each patient’s well-being, improved by their chance to be cared for by someone who shares their language and lived experience to provide culturally respectful care.
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