AAMU Sends Largest Cohort to Meharry BS/MD Program

Long before he stepped into an operating room to shadow physicians, Marcus Bell knew he wanted a life devoted to medicine. The Alabama A&M sophomore biology major from Atlanta, Georgia, recently completed the Meharry Medical College BS/MD Program alongside 25 fellow Bulldogs, giving Alabama A&M the largest delegation among the 11 participating historically Black colleges and universities. The program recently concluded after welcoming 111 aspiring physicians from HBCUs across the country for an immersive summer of clinical exposure, physician mentorship and professional development.

For Bell, the experience strengthened a passion rooted in family.

"My grandfather inspired me to become a physician," Bell said. "Before he passed, he always told me that I was meant to be great and that anything I wanted to do I could as long as I put the work in."

Those words stayed with him throughout the program as he shadowed oral surgeons and anesthesiologists, confirming what he had long believed.

"Every time I was around the hospital, it felt like I belonged," he said. "Many people feel at peace playing sports, video games or listening to music, but I feel most at peace observing surgeries, and I cannot wait for the day that I get to perform them."

The Meharry BS/MD Program provides students with early exposure to medical education and patient care while helping prepare them for the academic and professional demands of medical school. For Alabama A&M, having the program's largest cohort reflected the University's continued strength in preparing students for advanced study in medicine and other STEM disciplines through rigorous academics, faculty mentorship, undergraduate research and strategic partnerships.

Bell left the program with an even clearer vision for the physician he hopes to become.

"I want to become a neurosurgeon," he said. "I want to open pathways for people who look just like me. I want to give back to my community by uplifting young aspiring physicians and letting them know it truly is possible. I hope to leave a legacy of hard work and kindness. I want every patient to remember how well I treated them while also being happy with the result of their care."

As this year's cohort returned to their respective campuses, Bell and his fellow Bulldogs brought back more than new knowledge and clinical experience. They returned with stronger professional networks, renewed confidence and a deeper understanding of the responsibility that comes with caring for others—qualities that continue to distinguish Alabama A&M students as they prepare to become the next generation of physicians