"We need leaders who first care enough.
We need leaders who learn enough.
We need leaders who do enough.
We need leaders who will persevere until the job is done."
Help us lead the next chapter of global health equity.
This milestone campaign celebrates two decades of transformational work and fuels what comes next. Your support empowers the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute to expand research, forge strategic partnerships, and develop the diverse leaders the world needs to tackle its most pressing health challenges. Make your gift today and help Morehouse School of Medicine lead with excellence, equity, and global impact.
Over the years, some of SHLI’s signature programs have included:
For many years, Dr. Satcher has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence and stellar national leadership to addressing the complex health issues of underserved and vulnerable communities. Tap to expand and learn more about his career highlights.
Led major initiatives to increase childhood immunization rates and strengthened the nation's preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. His tenure laid the infrastructure groundwork for modern public health policy.
Released landmark reports on tobacco, mental health, suicide prevention, oral health, sexual health, youth violence, and obesity. Coined "There is No Health Without Mental Health." Prioritized eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
Served as president of one of the nation's oldest and most respected HBCUs dedicated to medical education, helping shape a generation of physicians committed to underserved communities.
Following his tenure as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Satcher returned to Morehouse School of Medicine and established SHLI in 2006 — translating his national public health leadership into an institute focused on health equity research, policy, and leadership development.
SHLI established at Morehouse School of Medicine by Dr. David Satcher, following his tenures as CDC Director and U.S. Surgeon General. The institute launched with a focus on mental health equity, sexual health, and evidence-based health policy for underserved communities.
Multicultural medicine and health disparities book published.
Health Policy Leadership Postdoctoral Fellowship launched — the first of SHLI's signature leadership pipelines for the next generation of equity-focused health leaders.
Smart & Secure Children (SSC) Quality Parenting Leadership Program launched.
The Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center (TCC) for Health Disparities Research awarded by NIH/NIMHD.
African American Network Against Alzheimer’s group established by Dr. Satcher to address brain health in Black communities.
$35 million grant from the State of Georgia Innovation and Medical Education Fund bolstered SHLI's public health infrastructure and policy research capacity statewide.
National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) — a $40 million grant-funded initiative in partnership with MSM's National Center for Primary Care to combat COVID-19 disparities in under-resourced communities.
Dr. Satcher published My Quest for Health Equity.
Health Equity Tracker launched, a Google.org-funded digital tool mapping health inequity data across all the United States and Territories in near real-time.
Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States Report released: nearly 117,000 lives and $278 billion could have been saved over four years (2016–2020) by addressing mental health disparities.
Global Health Equity Institute (GHEI) founded in Dr. Satcher's honor, with a $2 million founding gift from the Croel Family Foundation. Led by Dr. Barney Graham, GHEI extends SHLI's mission to international vaccine research and global health partnerships.
Satcher Institutes for Health Equity — SHLI and GHEI unite as one organization, bringing domestic and global health equity missions together at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Morehouse School of Medicine will convene in San Juan, Puerto Rico from Saturday, July 25, through Wednesday, July 29, 2026, for the National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly.
The exclusive invitation-only roundtable discussion will serve as a pre-symposium before a larger community event scheduled to take place later in the year.
The Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Health Equity Tracker were proud participants at the 2026 Daniel S. Blumenthal, MD, MPH Public Health Symposium, held at Morehouse School of Medicine. In keeping with Dr. Blumenthal's enduring legacy of advancing health equity and serving underserved communities, our teams presented posters highlighting the Health Equity Tracker's mission to make health disparity data freely accessible and the SEED program's work to expand tech career opportunities for engineers from underrepresented backgrounds. The symposium brought together public health professionals, researchers, students, and community leaders for meaningful conversations around prevention, policy, and the intersections shaping community health—and our poster sessions sparked engaging dialogue with Morehouse students and visitors eager to learn how they could contribute to equity-centered work in both public health and technology.
Dive deeper into our experience at the Blumenthal Symposium by reading reflections from our team members, who share insights on the meaningful conversations, connections, and takeaways from the event.
The Day of Service is one of the signature moments in SHLI's 20th anniversary year — a direct reflection of Dr. Satcher's lifelong belief in servant leadership. This year, we rallied Satcher Institute staff and scholars around three priority sites to deepen our impact and show up together as a community. Take a look at how we served, connected, and carried Dr. Satcher's mission into the neighborhoods that needed it most.
About SHLI — Founded by Dr. David Satcher, MD, PhD in 2006, the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine centers on leadership development, research on mental health and health inequities, and the promotion of evidence-based policies to achieve health equity for all. Now entering its 20th year, SHLI is merging with the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute to form the Satcher Institutes for Health Equity — extending Dr. Satcher's legacy from national to global.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
