By Rachel Wegner
- The class of 2026 was the largest one yet for Meharry Medical College, a private, historically Black school in Nashville.
- The college also marked its 150th anniversary this year.
Meharry Medical College sent out is largest-ever graduating class on May 16 as it continued to celebrate its 150th year.
The private, historically Black college has been a staple in North Nashville since 1876. A total of 565 graduates from five departments were honored at the ceremony, which was held at the Grand Ole Opry. Meharry President and CEO Dr. James E.K. Hildreth Sr. honored the thousands who have gone before the class of 2026 as he delivered remarks during the commencement ceremony.
“Their efforts to bring … genuine care to those for whom hope was once a fleeting presumption is the foundation of health care that many of you will go forward and practice,” Hildreth said.
Hildreth praised the graduates for their hard work and dedication, along with those who helped educate, challenge and support them along the way.
“You will go forth as both servants and leaders. From this day forward, graduates, your lives will never be the same,” Hildreth said. “You are a different person because of your work, your professors, your advisors, your mentors and your colleagues. It is the collaboration of learning, experience and planning, with a dash of serendipity.”
Hildreth also nodded to the changing times graduates are stepping into. The ceremony included graduates from Meharry’s School of Global Health, School of Applied Computational Science, School of Graduate Studies, School of Dentistry and School of Medicine.
“You are going out into the world in a time when artificial intelligence is going to shape everything that you do,” Hildreth said. “As you’ve heard me say many times before, there is no such thing as artificial judgment, as artificial compassion and artificial empathy. Never lose sight of that in all that you do.”
