Meharry Medical College Student, Kalilah Allen Harris crowned Miss Black USA

Nashville, Tenn.--June 8, 2007--On June 2, 2007, Kalilah Allen-Harris took home the crown of Miss Black USA in the Miss Black USA pageant held at the Independence Stadium in the West African country of the Republic of Gambia.

As Miss Black USA, she received a $20,000 scholarship and has become the national spokesperson for the Miss Black USA organization. “Allen-Harris has done an excellent job of balancing the rigorous demands of a first year medical student and her pageant obligations.”She's kind of been one of our model students," Dr. Pamela C. Williams, the vice dean of Meharry's School of Medicine.

A Montgomery, Ala. native, Allen-Harris is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and reigns as Miss Black Tennessee 2006-2007. She is in her sophomore year at Meharry, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon.

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Meharry Medical College is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black institution dedicated solely to educating minority and other health professionals. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Black Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees, and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.