MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University representatives appeared on WGNS Radio recently to share information about the university’s unique physician training partnership, a recent study showing tremendous economic impact by MTSU alumni, and an upcoming conference focused on the issue of disability awareness and leadership.

They appeared on the live “Action Line” program with host Scott Walker broadcast on FM 100.5, 101.9 and AM 1450 from the WGNS studio in downtown Murfreesboro. If you missed it, you can listen to the podcast of the Oct. 21 program.

• Eric Miller, advising manager of the Pre-Professional Health Science Advising Center in the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and first-year MTSU student Nikhil Yelemali, a freshman in the Medical School Early Acceptance Program, discussed the MSEAP, a unique partnership between MTSU and Meharry Medical College in Nashville to fast-track students to become physicians.

The program is accepting applications by its Dec. 1 deadline for its next cohort of students. Started in 2019 with the support of state funding, the program intends to increase the number of primary care physicians serving medically underserved populations as well as alleviating health care disparities in rural Tennessee.

MSEAP is a seven-year early medical acceptance program exclusively for incoming freshmen that begins with acceptance into the program as an undergraduate at MTSU and concludes with graduation from Meharry Medical College. At the conclusion of the program students will earn a Bachelor of Science from MTSU and a Doctor of Medicine from Meharry.

Those interested can visit www.mtsu.edu/cbas/MSEAP.php to learn more or email Miller at EricB.Miller@mtsu.edu.

• Dr. Murat Arik, director of the Business and Economic Research Center in the MTSU Jones College of Business, discussed BERC’s latest Alumni Impact Report shows the huge economic impact of MTSU alumni — locally, regionally and some $15.2 billion statewide over the course of a year.

The study showed that Rutherford County alone recorded over $4.1 billion, the highest among all counties, a newly compiled report released Monday, Oct. 7, shows.

MTSU alumni in Nashville and Davidson County, including alumni-owned businesses, recorded the second-highest total in business revenue among Tennessee counties (after Rutherford), generating $2.9 billion.

The Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga MSAs had totals of $11.3 billion, $509 million, and $504 million, respectively, in total business revenue impact by MTSU alumni and their businesses.

• MTSU media management student Kia Dowen, chapter president of the Gold Key International Honor Society; and Miura Rempis-Locke, the coordinator for Student Engagement and Programming in the MTSU Honors College as well as the faculty sponsor of Omicron Delta Kappa, discussed the upcoming NDEAM 2024 Leadership and Disability Conference, which will feature several successful individuals with disabilities to speak on the topic of leadership and disability.

Led by student-organizer Dowen, MTSU is hosting its first ever celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a leadership and disability conference from 1-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the MT Center inside the Sam H. Ingram Building on campus.

MTSU is hosting six successful speakers who will be discussing their professional and personal journey coping with mental and/or physical disabilities. The conference aims to shape the audience’s perspectives on success, leadership and ability in the workplace by the speakers sharing their insights and experiences.Students, faculty and staff who are interested in guesting on WGNS to promote their MTSU-related activities should contact Jimmy Hart, senior director of MTSU News and Media Relations, at 615-898-5131 or via email at jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu.