The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine Hosts 'First Fruits' Celebration

Event celebrates inaugural class and commitment to addressing future health care challenges 

The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine celebrated its inaugural class and its future impact through its First Fruits dinner on Saturday, Sept. 14. The event honored the donors and visionaries who have made the new medical school possible, while highlighting its commitment to innovative medical education and rural health care. 

The theme of "First Fruits" carries deep significance for the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine. In scripture, first fruits represent the best of the harvest, offered in gratitude and trust to God. This concept beautifully parallels the college's inaugural class, a group of students who embody the excellence and promise of the college's vision.  

“As first fruits signified the beginning of a harvest, our inaugural class marks the beginning of a new era for Belmont and for health care in Nashville,” said President Dr. Greg Jones. “And these students represent new life — for our University, for countless future patients and for the field of medicine itself.” 

At the heart of the celebration was the recognition of the transformative power of philanthropy. The unveiling of the Donor Wall served as a powerful reminder of the community support that brought Nashville's first new medical school in 148 years to life.  

The evening's centerpiece was a thought-provoking conversation between Dr. Anderson Spickard, Dean of the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. Their discussion explored how the college's innovative approach to medical education will prepare physicians to address future health care challenges. 

Frist offered sage advice to the inaugural class, distilling his wisdom into two powerful concepts: imagination and grace.  

“Imagination drives us to solve seemingly insurmountable problems,” he elaborated. “And grace ensures we never lose sight of the human element in health care. It's this combination that will propel medicine forward." 

The celebration also spotlighted three recipients of the Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr. Rural Physician Innovation Scholarship: Reyana Kaji, Cameron Hoff and Ubaid Tanveer. Their stories illustrated how donor-funded scholarships are already working to address health care needs in rural and underserved communities. 

The dinner symbolizes more than just a celebration of a new institution. Like the biblical offering of the first and best of the harvest, it represents the college's dedication of its finest efforts towards reshaping medical education to meet evolving health care needs.  

"Launching a med school is not easy. It's not a small task — it's a heavy lift,” said Spickard. “But the weight of this endeavor has been lightened by the countless individuals who have supported us. We stand on the shoulders of visionaries, and we're deeply grateful to each and every one of you. We could not achieve this milestone without this collective effort together.”