College of Medicine Faculty Members Reaffirm Confidence in College

Belmont's College of Medicine. (Provided by Belmont)

Twenty-seven Frist College of Medicine professors signed a letter to students reaffirming their faith in the college’s leadership, students and faculty.

“In light of recent coverage regarding faculty opinion at the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, we, the undersigned members of the faculty, write to share our perspective,” said the letter.

“We stand firmly behind our faculty colleagues across disciplines,” it said. “We have full confidence in our faculty's qualifications and dedication to our shared educational mission.”

Faculty members circulated physical copies of the letter to the college's student leadership.

“I personally am glad to have given the students proof that the vast majority of their faculty are proud to teach them, dedicated to supporting them and well-supported by leadership,” said Dr. Pat Whitworth, curriculum director of radiology and assistant professor of radiology. 

The letter stated that the writers are dedicated to supporting students however possible. The students’ achievements and performance represent “the high standards of a U.S. medical school,” said the letter.

“You should be tremendously proud of all that you have accomplished, just as we are proud to teach you,” said the letter.

The faculty members have full confidence in the college’s dean and administrative leadership, said the letter.

The college’s leadership makes the faculty members feel supported and safe to share concerns, it said.

The faculty members also affirmed their confidence in each other.

It was signed by Drs. Lawrence B. Stack, Caroline E. Rinaldi, M. Kevin Smith, Kendall Thurman, Richard Lyn-Cook, Bin Lui, Sonali Patel, Kimbell Kornu, Alexis H. Snead, Peter J. Huwe, Stephen M. Staggs, Sarah H. See, Kathleen Galloway, Jason Williams, Jill A. Forbess, Marquinta Harvey, Sandeep Vansal, Jessica Mason, Jeffrey D. Smith, James R. Judge, Pat Whitworth, Jules O’Meara, Ryan Grippo, Shruti Yarra, Divya Shroff, Manoj Giovindarajulu and Andrew Michel.

The letter asks that assumptions not be made about faculty members who did not sign. “The signatures below represent only those faculty who were available and have chosen to sign this statement,” it said.

Letter written by FCOM faculty members for students. (Provided by Dr. Pat Whitworth)

Written by Olivia Abernathy