When Mercer University and Morehouse College sold the state on the need for two new medical schools nearly 30 years ago, it was not an easy sell.

It took an unlikely coalition of rural politicians and the legislative black caucus to make that happen.

Last week, when Mercer announced it would be opening a satellite med school in Columbus, it also took an unlikely union to close the deal.

This time it required a joint effort of two hospitals that don’t always share their toys.

Months of cajoling by a Baptist preacher finally brought The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital together in a project that Mike Gaymon, president of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, describes as “a game-changing opportunity for our region.”

His statement was not just chamber hype.

The prospects of a permanent medical school training doctors that will stay in Georgia is exciting, especially for a community that sits on the cusp of poverty-stricken counties that are medically under-served.

People close to the action say the Rev. Jimmy Elder ultimately convinced the competing hospitals to lay down their scalpels.

Elder, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Columbus, is a Mercer graduate and a member of the university’s board of trustees.

Elder downplays his role. “Every once in a while you’ll find perfect suitors for something to take place,” he says.

He praises the spirit shown by all concerned.

Within six months the first 12 students arrive and that number will double by the second year.

They will complete their final two years of studies at local hospitals.

A permanent four-year campus will come later.

Overcoming obstacles is nothing new for Mercer.

In 1982, it overcame the objections of the governor, and officials at the Medical College of Georgia and Emory University -- the state’s existing medical schools.

They took their message on the road, setting up pep rallies in small-town Georgia.

At every stop local Baptist preachers, pharmacists and lawyers with Mercer degrees joined them.

The topic was that these communities had veterinarians to treat their animals but they had to drive great distances when their child got sick.

Around that same time Morehouse was also campaigning for a med school. Mercer wanted to train doctors to practice in rural Georgia.

Morehouse wanted to graduate more African-American physicians.

Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, a powerful figure in the legislative black caucus, was supporting Morehouse.

Mercer lobbyist John Mitchell helped convince him that the two schools should join forces.

Smyre became a key figure in both efforts.

The Mercer Medical School has not forgotten its origins.

It only accepts students from Georgia and 65.7 percent of its graduates now practice in Georgia.

Our counties to the south are in desperate need of health care.

Hopefully having a medical school here will lead to a program to attract family practice physicians to these needy communities.

That might be a job for the Rev. Elder.

Richard Hyatt is an independent correspondent. He is also found at www.richardhyattcolumbus.com