Two standout Alcorn State University students, George Eccles and Frances Lewis, recently completed the rigorous Meharry Medical College School of Medicine (MMCSOM) BS/MD Program, a bold step in their journeys toward becoming physicians. The six-week intensive program, designed to cultivate the next generation of medical professionals, welcomed its largest cohort to date this summer, with 90 undergraduate students from 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation.
George Eccles, a rising junior majoring in Biology Pre-Med from Monroe, Louisiana, distinguished himself by earning the highest scores in both Behavioral Science and Critical and Analytical Thinking. He was also invited to represent the Meharry BS/MD Junior Class, delivering a speech at the program’s recent closing ceremony.
“What attracted me to the Meharry BS/MD program was the great opportunity to get MCAT [preparation] and experience what it is like at a Medical College,” Eccles said. He credits Alcorn State’s biology classes for preparing him, but highlights the program’s unique value: “The program is most importantly an outlet for students to learn new information that their institution might not have already. The program prepares you for the MCAT, which is a great resource and something Alcorn might not do.”
Eccles found the six weeks of intensive study both challenging and enjoyable. He noted the program’s fast pace, with classes running five days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., covering material typically spread across a semester. Despite the demanding schedule, Eccles observed a strong collaborative spirit among his peers. “All of the students in my class worked together to study the material and prepare ourselves for the exams,” he stated. He also found personal growth in the experience, discovering that “when I love a class and the material in a subject, studying is not a chore. It is enjoyable because I want to learn more to gain more knowledge.”
Eccles, who lived in Abu Dhabi for nine years, plans to become a plastic surgeon. “I want to not only help people look good but feel good on the inside,” he stated. “I would like to give back to people in need of cosmetic treatments that affect their mental well-being.”
Frances Lewis, a rising senior majoring in Psychology from Jackson, Mississippi, returned for her second year in the program, underscoring its profound impact on her aspirations. “My initial interest piqued when I learned the program was looking for HBCU students to attend an HBCU medical school, which I did not know existed at the time,” Lewis explained.
Despite being a psychology major, Lewis praised Alcorn State for fostering her interdisciplinary growth. “Alcorn has prepared me for this program by teaching me to explore my interests, test my capabilities, and make connections in every room I enter,” she said. She vividly recalled a transformative moment from her first summer at Meharry, when a professor helped her restructure her academic plan to pursue medicine while maintaining her psychology major. “She believed in me, and she had just met me,” Lewis shared. “I knew I had a place in medicine from this program, and I had people in my corner who were going to make sure I got there.”
Lewis aspires to be a psychiatrist, driven by a passion for mental health and understanding the brain. “I’ve always known I was meant to be there for those in need and listen to help those achieve the greatness of emotional balance and serenity,” she noted.
The Meharry BS/MD Program focuses on developing students with strong academic credentials, competitive MCAT scores, and the personal, professional, leadership, and psychological attributes essential for medical school and a successful medical career. Students in the program participate in enrichment classes covering subjects such as anatomy and physiology, Behavioral Sciences, Critical and Analytical Reasoning, Microbiology, Physics, and Seminar.
Eccles encouraged other HBCU students to apply, emphasizing the program’s long-term benefits. “The program doesn’t just help you for six weeks, it has an impact on you for the rest of your life,” he said. Lewis echoed this sentiment: “It is free to apply, so why not try? You never know what room, journey, people, or lecture is meant for you if you never go out there and at least try.”
