About Us

Our Mission

The mission of Project BYPASS is to literally bypass the corroded segments of the well-known “leaky pipeline” that prevent Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine (URM) from achieving their goals of becoming physicians. The goal is to create a network of minorities (and true allies) who are invested in getting disadvantaged students of color to the other side via an insulated, safe, streamlined, and reproducible pathway.

Our Purpose

Despite clear evidence that patients have better outcomes when treated by physicians who look like them, there has been little progress in this country in increasing the number of Black physicians. While Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, only 5% of medical doctors are Black. Project BYPASS exists to increase the number of Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine (URM).

We are a non-profit organization seeking to address the “leaky pipeline” of students getting into medicine but instead of trying to patch the holes, I want to bypass these flawed segments by creating an isolated fast track of a safe and reproducible network of underrepresented minorities in medicine who are invested in getting students to the other side.

Our Team

Double Board-Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Dr. Paul Johnson is committed to the prevention and management of diseases of the colon and rectum. In addition to many teaching awards and multiple peer-reviewed publications related to his specialty, he has found a passion for the advancement of underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM). Being the only Black person in many rooms in the medical space started out as a badge of honor; it quickly became quite lonely and his fight to increase diversity began. He is proud to serve on the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery’s (ASCRS) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which strives to improve equity in colorectal cancer screening and treatment. He is the lead of the ASCRS’ Student Pathway Program which is designed to expose underserved high school, college, and medical students to the colorectal surgical specialty during the ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting each year. The goal is to spark future interest in the medical field and the colorectal surgical specialty. Believing in the power of grassroots mobilization to impact change, he is one of four delegates from the ASCRS to The House of Delegates (HOD), the legislative and policy-making body of the American Medical Association, and serves on ASCRS’ Health Economics Committee. Furthermore, Dr. Johnson seeks to contribute to support and educate the next generation of Meharrians by establishing a clerkship in Memphis in Surgery. Recently appointed as adjunct faculty of Meharry Medical College’s Department of Surgery, he has started educating students at Methodist University Hospital and will be a resource for all interested in surgery, as they navigate this challenging but rewarding path. Dr. Johnson is also a member of the Executive Leadership Team of National Council for Residents, an organization that exists solely to stem the tide of dismissal of Black residents—a devastating epidemic in Graduate Medical Education. Lastly, Dr. Johnson has founded, Project BYPASS, a 501(c)(3) organization in the city of Memphis, TN effectively to “bypass” the leaky segments in the pipeline from high school to the medical field through inspiration, exposure, and mentorship while avoiding the too-often traveled school-to-prison pipeline.

Paul Johnson, MD

President/Chief Executive Officer

Jamarr Walton

Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Jamarr Walton is a native of Holly Springs, MS. He graduated from Holly Springs High School as a standout student academically and athletically. He then attended the University of Mississippi where he finished with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science and his teaching credentials through the Mississippi Department of Education. He also participated in athletics with the Ole Miss Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams. Now he currently serves as a community organizer, educator, personal trainer, and a local politician. He is an elected official and currently on holds office as an Election Commissioner for Marshall County, MS. He’s board chair for Holly Springs, MS Tourism Bureau, and a board member of (ECAM) Election Commissioners’ Association of Mississippi where he instructs statewide trainings for other elected commissioners in Mississippi. He’s a deacon at his church, a musician, and a Sunday School Teacher. He’s the owner of Jumping Jack Fitness, LLC personal training company. Commissioner Jamarr “Jack” Walton has been teaching high school for 8 years in science-based subjects such as; STEM, Biology, Lifetime Wellness, Human Anatomy, Physical Education, and ACT Prep. He’s a servant and has a strong foundation in family and community.

Jordan Taylor is a Memphis native who desires to give back to the city by inspiring the youth to dream big. With his background in psychology, public health, and health and fitness, he aims to provide knowledge to students on the importance of a healthy lifestyle to support their pursuit of higher learning, namely in S.T.E.M. careers. He also hopes to share with them the value of educating their future patients on nutrition, exercise, and mindful practices.

Jordan Taylor, MPH

Parliamentarian/Community Outreach Coordinator

Teri-Lee Foster, MD

Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Teri-Lee Foster is a Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist who has been serving the Memphis area over 8 years. Born in New York City and subsequently raised on the beautiful island of Jamaica, she emigrated back to the United States where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Clark Atlanta University and her medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. She completed her residency training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and has since remained in Memphis, practicing at Women’s Physician Group. In addition to her passion for women’s health and stamping out health care disparities within the Black diaspora, Dr. Foster is also actively involved in the Memphis community. She frequently participates in activities from community events and fundraisers to health fairs and women’s health awareness campaigns. She lives by the saying, “You are only limited by the limits of your creativity.” In Dr. Foster’s spare time, she enjoys badminton, swimming, and sketching.

A Memphis native, Trenikia Shelton is passionate about seeing her city achieve its highest heights and has joined Project BYPASS to influence the youth in her community. As a first generation college graduate, Trenikia Shelton has earned a Bachelor of Arts with a focus in Journalism and Professional Writing and went on to gain both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Human Resource Development. She currently works as a Business Support Specialist for Methodist Healthcare. With her extensive experience in all aspects of development, with a strong emphasis on innovation, problem solving and leadership, she is excited to use her skills to assist with the overall development of this fledgling organization.

Trenikia Shelton, MBA

Secretary/Business Development Manager

Tyra Murray, MMSc, PA-C

Historian/Social Media Manager

Tyra Murray, MMSc, PA-C is a board-certified physician assistant practicing in Surgical Oncology in Tennessee. She grew up in a military family in McDonough, GA, and graduated from High School in her hometown Hanover, MD.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Missouri in 2019. She then earned her Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Mercer University in 2022. Tyra believes that providing compassionate and excellent quality care is essential for all patients. Since high school, she has taken a special interest in aiding those in medically underserved communities. She is also passionate about providing opportunities and mentorship to students to find their career paths. She looks forward to mentoring students on how to be successful in their chosen careers. Even if that career choice hasn’t been made yet, she is excited and willing to help.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, skating, singing/dancing, watching tv, and spending time with her family and dogs.