Photo by Matt Schorr.
Pilar Prather joins the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance team as Program Manager for IPE.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Pilar Prather, M.Ed has joined the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (MVA) as the Program Manager for Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Inter-Institutional Collaborative Learning. She will work with students and faculty to develop partnerships between institutions and improve community organizational projects.
“I’m excited to be able to bridge my experiences from Meharry to Vanderbilt,” Prather said.
Before joining the Alliance, Prather was the Program Coordinator for the Master of Science in Public Health Program (MSPH) at Meharry. She was the primary point of contact for coordinating and executing student initiatives.
Prather earned her Master of Education Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While there, she worked as a Resident Director. Before that, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Murray State University.
“I enjoy the atmosphere of learning,” she commented. “I enjoy helping students reach education goals, as well as their professional and personal development.”
Prather hopes to build upon the IPE’s Student Pilot Project, an inter-institutional and interprofessional collaborative program between the academic community and community partners. “I want it to be something we can continuously use,” she said. “I want it to have a curriculum that can grow.”
Prather joined the MVA in hopes of expanding her experience. Previously, she worked with students and faculty only. Her new position, she says, will allow her to expand her network to various community partners and different institutions in Nashville.
About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
Founded in 1999, the Alliance bridges the institutions of Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Its mission is to enrich learning and advance clinical research in three primary areas -- community engagement, interprofessional education and research -- by developing and supporting mutually beneficial partnerships between Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the communities they serve. Through community engagement, the Alliance serves a large community of stakeholders including surrounding universities and colleges, community organizations, faith-based outlets and community health centers. Its interprofessional education enhances students' interdisciplinary understanding and improves patient outcomes through integrated care. The research conducted provides access to experienced grant writers and materials supporting the grant application process and facilitates grant-writing workshops.