Marva Johnson backs TMH-FSU 'partnership' as pastor pushes adding FAMU, TSC to board

A day before the city meets to discuss whether Florida State University should be the new owner of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, one of the most influential Black pastors in Tallahassee proposed a new model for the parties to consider.

Rev. R.B. Holmes, Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, called for FSU, TMH and the city to save a seat at the table for Florida A&M University, Tallahassee State College and the Apalachee Center.

"We're going to do this once-in-a-lifetime merger, let's do it right," Holmes said.

The pastor told a crowd that included City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow and County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings that the budding partnership between the hospital and university is a step in the right direction, but leaders need to ensure that the community is protected and represented.

This is why the university and hospital should amend its proposed board structure to have seven board members representing TMH, six representing FSU, two representing FAMU, one representing TSC and one representing the Apalachee Center for "a stronger path forward," Holmes said.

"They must be at the table," he said.

The existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) calls for an almost even split between TMH and FSU members with the hospital having an extra member.

With the varying health disparities and poverty in the community, Holmes said it's important for everyone to have access to "high quality healthcare," even those who don't have insurance.

And this starts with including all the local players.

"I still believe in diversity," Holmes said. "I want to see doctors that look like me."

Pastors want protection for indigents and from state control and 'voodoo' medicine

Holmes message came on the same day that FAMU's president Marva Johnson wrote a letter to the campus community saying the MOU affirms the role of the HBCU as an "essential partner."

The Tallahassee City Commission will hold two public hearings on the issue Oct. 1 and Oct. 22. Johnson said "FAMU leadership will be present to support this partnership and to hear feedback from our community stakeholders."

But others see room for improvement with the deal.

Johnnie Early , former dean and current professor of FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Public Health, also supported the idea of having all three higher education institutions included in this healthcare change.

Having nearly two decades of experience in the academic medical world, Early said teaching hospitals raise the level of healthcare for a community.

"You're going to get the best care that you could ever get in a teaching hospital," he said.

During the press conference, Holmes also addressed the issue of a sale or transfer of the hospital and said the city should absolutely put a price on the billion dollar asset: "We cannot just give it away."

While the city rejects the interpretation, some say transferring the hospital at a price could trigger a Florida law that spells out numerous stipulations that have to occur for a sale to happen, including a review by the hospital's board of the benefits of a sale, the publication of all documents considered by the board and the hiring of a certified public accounting firm to independently determine the hospital's value.

It also states that 50% of net proceeds of the sale or lease go toward "funding the delivery of indigent care."

Holmes also raised concerns about effectively putting the hospital in the state's hands after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis have made moves to end all vaccine mandates in the state .

"That's voodoo and not good medicine," Holmes said.

Marva Johnson weighs in on TMH MOU

On the same day President Johnson was spotted in the Florida Capitol, she published a letter sharing her support for the deal TMH and FSU negotiated.

"Our university has enjoyed a long-standing and productive relationship with TMH, one that will continue to grow during my administration," said Johnson, who has long been a supporter of DeSantis.

While the FSU dean of the College of Medicine acknowledged meeting with the governor and surgeon general in the context of the hospital sale, an FSU spokesperson later clarified that the meeting wasn't about TMH.

"The governor and our legislators are not and have not been involved in this process," said Dennis Schnittker, assistant vice president for communications.

DeSantis has not spoken publicly about the acquisition. His office has also not answered questions from the Tallahassee Democrat about his position on the possible transfer.

Johnson referenced FSU's and TMH's memorandum of understanding which specifically affirmed that the hospital and university would continue to maintain and expand its relationships with FAMU and TSC. Johnson said FAMU is "an essential partner in training the healthcare professionals of the future."

"Representation matters," she wrote. "The healthcare workforce of tomorrow must reflect the diversity of the communities it serves, and FAMU will continue to play a vital role in producing professionals who can reduce health disparities and deliver culturally competent care."

Follow along live

Reporter Elena Barrera, who has covered the hospital issue since it burst into the headlines in March, will liveblog the Oct. 1 public hearing at 9 a.m. at tallahassee.com.

Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at  ebarrera@tallahassee.com . Follow her on X:  @elenabarreraaa .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee pastor calls for community representation in TMH-FSU deal