Conference Venue

Meharry Medical College
The Cal Turner Family Center
for Student Education

1011 21st Ave. N
Nashville, TN 37208

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Get Directions »
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Host Lodging

Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel
623 Union Street
Nashville, TN 37219
Call 800.447.9825
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Additional Hotel Lodging

Hampton Inn Vanderbilt Ellison Place
2330 Elliston PL
Nashville, TN 37203
Call 615.320.6060
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Program Focus

The program will focus on developing students academically for entry into medical and graduate school for health professions. We have invited presidents, faculty and staff from HBCU institutions and others to participate in this three-day meeting June 26 – 28, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee on the Meharry Medical College campus.

Program Objectives

There will be general sessions and workshops for attendees and a half-day special session for HBCU presidents during which time data on the decline of HBCU graduates applying and enrolling in health and science programs will be presented and discussed. Other topics will include a discussion surrounding paths of HBCU graduates in health and science careers and an examination of partnerships to solicit additional funding to support the capacity needs.

Program Outline

Click here to download the full program »
The program is subject to change.

Monday, June 26, 2017

12:00 PM – 6:30 PM Registration Open
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Simulation Lab Tour & Demonstration
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM College Readiness Workshop
Mentoring: Early Exposure and Maximizing Impact — Changing the Racial Imbalance with Role Models
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Concurrent Breakout Sessions
  Track I
Creating and Improving Your Office of Health Professions
  Track II
Innovative Curricula and Learning Environments that Lead to Success and Mastery of Competencies for Future Health Professionals
  Track III
Approaches for Successfully Mastering Entrance Exams
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Reception
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Welcome & General Session I
The Importance of Increasing a Sustained and Competitive Applicant Pool

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Special Session (CLOSED)
Multidisciplinary Approaches to Health Careers: A Panel Discussion
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM General Session II
Reports from Empower 1 Working Groups
10:15 AM – 11:45 AM Concurrent Breakout Sessions
  Track IV
Addressing Barriers of Advising Millennials for Health Professions
  Track V
Innovative Curricula and Learning Environments that Lead to Success and Mastery of Competencies for Future Health Professionals
  Track VI
Approaches for Successfully Mastering Entrance Exams
10:15 AM – 12:30 PM President's Session (INVITATION ONLY)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM General Session III & Lunch
Current Status and Trends of Minority Enrollments in US Health Professions Schools
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM Concurrent Breakout Sessions
  Track VII
Creating and Improving Your Office of Health Professions
  Track VIII
Curricular Needs to Prepare and Retain 21st Century Students Interested in the Health Professions
  Track IX
Evidence-Based Approaches to Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Undergraduate Curriculum
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Working Groups Session
Greatest Challenges & Best Practices
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM General Session IV
Special Role of HBCUs: Policy & Funding
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Reception

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM NRMN Programming
National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Programming for Undergraduate Students
7:30 AM – 10:00 AM Registration Open
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM General Session V
Working Groups Reporting: Challenges & Best Practices
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM General Session VI & Closing
President's Overview and Recommendations for the Way

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Howard University | Meharry Medical College | Morehouse School of Medicine

The aim of the Empower Conference is to bring more minority scientists and clinicians into the mainstream and provide collaborative interactions among HBCU institutions, all to improve health outcomes.

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