James Hildreth named Meharry's next president

SP
Sandra Phoenix
Mon, Mar 9, 2015 11:11 AM

The Tennessean
March 6, 2015
James Hildreth named Meharry's next president
by Adam Tamburin

Soon after Dr. James E.K. Hildreth was named as the next president of Meharry Medical College, throngs of students, administrators and researchers hurried to greet him with handshakes and hugs.

For Hildreth, it was a jubilant homecoming.

The 58-year-old worked as a professor and researcher at Meharry from 2005 to 2011. He was the founding director of the school's Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research.

Hildreth currently serves as dean of the University of California Davis' College of Biological Sciences, where he oversaw fund-raising efforts and research projects. He was drawn to return to Meharry as president because of the college's mission to offer care to Nashville's most vulnerable citizens.

"That's why I came in the first place, and that's why I've come back," he said in an interview Friday. Meharry's "mission, its history, the people, everything about it resonates with who I am and what I'd like to achieve with my life and my work."

His hire, which was announced to a crowd of hundreds Friday afternoon at Meharry, caps off a year-long search that included more than 90 candidates from across the country. But a series of in-person interviews confirmed that Hildreth was the right choice for the top spot, said Dr. Frank S. Royal Sr., chairman of Meharry's board of trustees.

Royal, himself a Meharry alumnus, sat in on Hildreth's final interview with the presidential search committee. Hildreth spoke of Meharry's mission and his personal history with such eloquence, Royal said, that the committee members leaped to their feet and applauded.

"It was the most touching experience I have had," said Royal. "It was a very, very spiritual and emotional moment. It was meant to be."

The board voted unanimously to hire Hildreth last week.

Change will be an unavoidable part of Hildreth's time at Meharry's helm.

On Friday, he repeatedly mentioned the rapidly evolving health-care industry, from training for physicians to pay models. Hildreth said his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with existing "wisdom circles" at Meharry, would help the institution forge new ground.

At the same time, Hildreth was mindful of Meharry's existing connections. He said he looked forward to nurturing the ongoing relationship with Nashville General Hospital at Meharry, although he added that it would take time to identify his specific goals.

Tragedy leads to purpose

On his way into the medical field, Hildreth got degrees from Harvard, Oxford and Johns Hopkins universities. His journey was spurred on by a childhood tragedy that also guided his commitment to Meharry, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically black health science centers.

When Hildreth was 11 years old and growing up in small-town Arkansas, his father died of cancer.

"Even though there was a hospital there and doctors there, my father didn't get very much care for two reasons: Because we were black and we were poor," he said. "Coming to a place whose whole history and founding was to take care of people who are disadvantaged and poor was very powerful for me."

When he begins his tenure on July 1, Hildreth will become Meharry's 12th president. It's a position he hopes to hold for the rest of his professional life, through the college's 150th birthday in 2026.

"All the trips I've made my whole life, the best part of every one of them was coming home," he told the crowd gathered Friday. "That's what this feels like."

Hildreth will succeed sitting President A. Cherrie Epps, a longtime Meharry professor and administrator who stepped into the school's top spot in 2013. She will remain at the helm through the end of June.

Reach Adam Tamburinhttp://www.tennessean.com/staff/9499/adam-tamburin/ at 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweetshttps://twitter.com/tamburintweets.

About Dr. James Hildreth

Hildreth grew up in Arkansas and went to Harvard University, where he helped bankroll his undergraduate education by taking care of mice in the research labs. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and then got his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University.

Hildreth will return to Meharry after a stint as dean the University of California Davis' College of Biological Sciences. Hildreth's wife, Phyllis D.K. Hildreth, began work as an associate professor and academic director of the Institute for College Management at Lipscomb University a few years ago while he was working as a researcher at Meharry. When he moved to take a job in California in 2011, she continued her work here.

The Hildreths have two adult children.

SANDRA M. PHOENIX
Executive Director
HBCU Library Alliance
sphoenix@hbculibraries.orgmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org
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Honor the ancestors, honor the children.

The Tennessean March 6, 2015 James Hildreth named Meharry's next president by Adam Tamburin Soon after Dr. James E.K. Hildreth was named as the next president of Meharry Medical College, throngs of students, administrators and researchers hurried to greet him with handshakes and hugs. For Hildreth, it was a jubilant homecoming. The 58-year-old worked as a professor and researcher at Meharry from 2005 to 2011. He was the founding director of the school's Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research. Hildreth currently serves as dean of the University of California Davis' College of Biological Sciences, where he oversaw fund-raising efforts and research projects. He was drawn to return to Meharry as president because of the college's mission to offer care to Nashville's most vulnerable citizens. "That's why I came in the first place, and that's why I've come back," he said in an interview Friday. Meharry's "mission, its history, the people, everything about it resonates with who I am and what I'd like to achieve with my life and my work." His hire, which was announced to a crowd of hundreds Friday afternoon at Meharry, caps off a year-long search that included more than 90 candidates from across the country. But a series of in-person interviews confirmed that Hildreth was the right choice for the top spot, said Dr. Frank S. Royal Sr., chairman of Meharry's board of trustees. Royal, himself a Meharry alumnus, sat in on Hildreth's final interview with the presidential search committee. Hildreth spoke of Meharry's mission and his personal history with such eloquence, Royal said, that the committee members leaped to their feet and applauded. "It was the most touching experience I have had," said Royal. "It was a very, very spiritual and emotional moment. It was meant to be." The board voted unanimously to hire Hildreth last week. Change will be an unavoidable part of Hildreth's time at Meharry's helm. On Friday, he repeatedly mentioned the rapidly evolving health-care industry, from training for physicians to pay models. Hildreth said his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with existing "wisdom circles" at Meharry, would help the institution forge new ground. At the same time, Hildreth was mindful of Meharry's existing connections. He said he looked forward to nurturing the ongoing relationship with Nashville General Hospital at Meharry, although he added that it would take time to identify his specific goals. Tragedy leads to purpose On his way into the medical field, Hildreth got degrees from Harvard, Oxford and Johns Hopkins universities. His journey was spurred on by a childhood tragedy that also guided his commitment to Meharry, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically black health science centers. When Hildreth was 11 years old and growing up in small-town Arkansas, his father died of cancer. "Even though there was a hospital there and doctors there, my father didn't get very much care for two reasons: Because we were black and we were poor," he said. "Coming to a place whose whole history and founding was to take care of people who are disadvantaged and poor was very powerful for me." When he begins his tenure on July 1, Hildreth will become Meharry's 12th president. It's a position he hopes to hold for the rest of his professional life, through the college's 150th birthday in 2026. "All the trips I've made my whole life, the best part of every one of them was coming home," he told the crowd gathered Friday. "That's what this feels like." Hildreth will succeed sitting President A. Cherrie Epps, a longtime Meharry professor and administrator who stepped into the school's top spot in 2013. She will remain at the helm through the end of June. Reach Adam Tamburin<http://www.tennessean.com/staff/9499/adam-tamburin/> at 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweets<https://twitter.com/tamburintweets>. About Dr. James Hildreth Hildreth grew up in Arkansas and went to Harvard University, where he helped bankroll his undergraduate education by taking care of mice in the research labs. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and then got his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University. Hildreth will return to Meharry after a stint as dean the University of California Davis' College of Biological Sciences. Hildreth's wife, Phyllis D.K. Hildreth, began work as an associate professor and academic director of the Institute for College Management at Lipscomb University a few years ago while he was working as a researcher at Meharry. When he moved to take a job in California in 2011, she continued her work here. The Hildreths have two adult children. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.