Four notes:
1. The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on education, research and community benefit initiatives, according to a Feb. 17 health system news release.
2. The partnership aims to establish a regional Morehouse School of Medicine campus and launch new residency programs at Phoebe Putney.
3. The initiative will address physician shortages affecting small urban and rural areas such as Southwest Georgia while diversifying the healthcare workforce in historically underserved communities.
4. The organizations plan to develop strategies to encourage students, residents and healthcare professionals to practice in the region after completing their training.
“Morehouse School of Medicine is a great partner for us because they have a longstanding track record of developing physicians with a passion for serving diverse communities, with a large percentage of MSM graduates staying in Georgia,” Phoebe Putney President and CEO Scott Steiner said in the release.