A $3 million grant from Kaiser Permanente to the Morehouse School of Medicine is being used to run an undergraduate program to help students at historic black colleges and universities in Atlanta enter graduate-level study in the health and biomedical fields.

The Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy at Morehouse School of Medicine was announced during the school’s 32nd fall convocation, white coat and pinning ceremony.

“Partnerships like this are not only key to helping us transform the future of health care and medical education, but help ensure that those who are on the front lines of community health reflect the diversity of our nation’s communities,” said Dr. Ronald Copeland, a senior vice president at Kaiser Permanente.

The program will provide tutoring, mentoring, hands-on research and support for undergraduate students at the Atlanta University Center Consortium, which include Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College. The overarching goal of the program is to advance and help ensure the success of the next generation of diverse healthcare providers.