Morehouse School of Medicine News November 11, 2019 Coca-Cola Lifting the Weight of Student Debt The Coca-Cola Foundation Commits $2.08 Million to Student Scholarships at Morehouse School of Medicine. The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded $2.08 million to Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) for scholarships that will allow 12 medical students to pursue their dreams without the distraction of severe debt. In addition to this current gift, The Coca-Cola Foundation - which is the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company - has provided over $3 million of funding to MSM since 2014. Recipients include first-year medical student Adam Muñoz, who entered MSM to study psychiatry or primary care for Atlanta's impoverished and mentally ill populations. "I want to be able to take a job that might not pay the most but could help a lot of people," he said. "But debt can put a lot of pressure on you. It can interfere with your education." The average debt for medical school graduates is about $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Graduates of public medical schools carry an average of $243,902. Graduates of private medical schools carry $300,000 or more. "Pursuing a medical education is challenging enough without the crushing burden of student debt," said Helen Smith Price, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation and Vice President of Community Affairs at The Coca-Cola Company. "We want to empower these future healthcare leaders who have committed to MSM's mission of serving the underserved." Six students from the 2019 entering class will receive $40,000 per year for four years: Muñoz, Breana Bess, Maria M. Fleiderman, Ka'Necia S. Martin, Lois J. Sharpe, and Carlton G. Smith. Another seven recipients will be named from the 2020 entering class of MDs. "The Coca-Cola Foundation's generosity continues to have a substantial impact on helping us achieve our ultimate goal of having students graduate from MSM debt-free," said MSM President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD. "Reducing their debt load means our graduates are free to pursue meaningful careers, unburdened by financially driven decisions." The scholarship awards are based on financial need and academic merit for the duration of the students' medical school career. Students must maintain a 3.0 average to be eligible for renewal each year. "The world needs what Morehouse School of Medicine does best: educating and graduating healthcare leaders with a dedication to serving the underserved," said MSM Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Bennie L. Harris, PhD. "It's about more than just getting a degree; it's about truly making a difference. The Coca-Cola Foundation continues to be a generous supporter of this mission." As a result of this gift, students like Muñoz can graduate with a lighter debt burden - and their dreams intact. "I like that I will be free to control how I pursue a career in medicine," he said. "Helping the underserved will be emotionally rewarding." SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/