The 17th Annual DeVail Wyatt Memorial Doctoral Gala

History of the Tradition: Formerly known as the Cadaver Ball, the Doctoral Gala is an annual tradition honoring the memory of DeVail Wyatt, a young boy whose dreams of becoming a doctor could not be realized due to a horrific disease that took his life at the age of 16. Each year, we celebrate the life of DeVail Wyatt by raising money for the scholarship that bears his name and supports those that embody his legacy of courage, conviction, and faith at our annual gala. Scholarships are awarded to Meharry students in the medical, dental, and graduate studies programs who exemplify DeVail’s determination, courage, and commitment to community service.

Date: Saturday, February 4th, 2023

Time: 7:30pm - Midnight

Location: National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM); 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Attire: Gala/Black Tie (no exceptions)

Theme: Harlem Renaissance / The Roaring 20’s

Who can attend?: Meharrians and guests

Can I donate instead of purchasing a ticket?: Absolutely! The donation tiers are listed below, however we welcome any contribution!

- Sponsor: $500

- Bronze: $501 - $1,000 + 2 tickets

- Silver: $1,001 - $2,000 + 4 tickets

- Gold: $2,001 - $3,000 + 6 tickets

- Platinum: $3,001+ + Table (8 tickets)

Do I need to wear a mask?: COVID-19 precautions are currently TBD. Please check back here for an update!

If I bring a guest, what type of ticket should they buy?: A student ticket!

Ticket purchase includes:

- Access to the museum’s six state-of-the-art galleries

- Opportunity to win a scholarship (application details will be shared with current students via email)

- Dinner, drinks, and DJ-curated vibes to dance the night away to

- A Meharry Doctoral Gala gift to commemorate the evening and thank you for your attendance

- Enjoy the chance to meet, network and build relationships with current Meharry students, alumni, faculty and guests from diverse fields in medicine, healthcare, education and leadership within our community for the first time, in-person, since COVID-19

*Note: All ticket sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.

Come and spend the night with us honoring DeVail Wyatt, the history of African American artistry at NMAAM, the only museum of its kind dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Black music in America, and our legacy of Black Excellence. This will be a night you won’t forget!

Host or Publisher Meharry Medical College