Meharry Students to plant 85 trees across campus beginning in front of the School of Dentistry
Nashville, Tenn. (Dec. 2, 2025) – Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program in partnership with Cumberland River Compact, held its groundbreaking tree planting ceremony today announcing its plans to plant 85 trees across the campus.
The effort is part of the program’s Climate PA-Ct initiative to enhance Meharry’s green infrastructure and to de-pave a portion of campus to create healthier green spaces at Meharry and in the community.
“Increasing tree canopy improves health outcomes, not only for the environment, but for the people who live within it. Conditions such as heat stroke, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other health complications can be addressed at their root by creating healthier, greener spaces. Our commitment is to train students to become holistic practitioners who understand and respond to all determinants of health,” said Devin Graham, clinical coordinator and policy analyst with PA Sciences.
“Meharry is a part of a community shaped by environmental inequities, redlining, and green gentrification. Because these forces have directly harmed the health of our neighbors, it is essential that we take meaningful steps to help reverse their effects.”
Community members attending today’s event include Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, Metro Nashville Councilmember At-Large, Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director of Metro Public Health, Dr. Kendra Abkowitz, Senior Director of Sustainability and Resilience, Mayor’s office and Jason Sprouls, Cumberland River Compact.
Immediately following today’s announcement Meharry Physician Assistant students took to the grounds with support from the Cumberland River Compact team and faculty to begin planting the Shumard Oaks trees which live an average of 150 years – a symbolic effort that also honors Meharry’s 150th Anniversary.
ABOUT MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE:
Meharry Medical College is a historically Black academic health sciences center founded in 1876 that trains qualified physicians, physician assistants, scientists and dentists from every demographic to heal underserved communities. Meharry educates its students in the school’s nearly 150-year heritage of healing the whole person and advancing public health. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church-related institution. Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. Visit www.meharry.edu to learn more.
To see photos from the event, click here.
