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Creating a more diverse pipeline of healthcare professionals: HCA Healthcare to give $10 million to HBCUs and HSIs

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HCA Healthcare to provide funding aimed at creating a more diverse pipeline of healthcare professionals and leaders

Today, we are proud to announce that we will give $10 million over the next three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in communities near our hospitals in order to advance diversity in healthcare.

“HCA Healthcare serves diverse communities across the country, and we know our ability to continue to do that most effectively depends on a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities,” said Sam Hazen, chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare.

“We are eager to build productive and collaborative relationships with many of the nation’s leading HBCUs and HSIs to attract Black and Hispanic/Latinx candidates into the many exciting career paths in healthcare,” Hazen adds.

HCA Healthcare’s local leadership teams are seeking to identify opportunities to collaborate with HBCUs and HSIs to expand opportunities for students who may be interested in careers in healthcare and related fields. We expect this will be done in a variety of ways including internship programs, investments in curriculum development and scholarships.

HCA Healthcare has a history of strategically partnering with organizations to develop future healthcare leaders. In 2019, the HCA Healthcare Scholars at Fisk University program was created to provide scholarships, career planning support and internship opportunities for high-achieving undergraduates.

In addition, HCA Healthcare committed $1 million to Tennessee State University in 2015 to fund internship opportunities and support the growth of the Health Information Management program. These partnerships and others with industry- and school-based associations, including the National Urban League, the National Association of Health Services Executives and the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives, are helping HCA Healthcare strengthen the diversity of its talent pipeline at all levels.

“Our partnerships with HBCUs and HSIs allow us to help bridge the gap in Black and Hispanic/Latinx representation in healthcare leadership positions, a challenge our industry faces as a whole,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer of HCA Healthcare. “Advancing the diversity of our talent pool will ultimately help us to deliver more equitable, culturally competent care.”

Related article: HCA Healthcare and Fisk University’s new scholars program boosts next-gen of healthcare

Female African American student sitting at table in university cafe alone wearing glasses looking at computer screen using headphones.
HCA Healthcare’s local leadership teams are seeking to identify opportunities to collaborate with HBCUs and HSIs to expand opportunities for students who may be interested in careers in healthcare and related fields.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, is comprised of 183 hospitals and more than 2,300 sites of care, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Our more than 283,000 colleagues are connected by a single purpose — to give patients healthier tomorrows.

As an enterprise, we recognize the significant responsibility we have as a leading healthcare provider within each of the communities we serve, as well as the opportunity we have to improve the lives of the patients for whom we are entrusted to care. Through the compassion, knowledge and skill of our caregivers, and our ability to leverage our scale and innovative capabilities, HCA Healthcare is in a unique position to play a leading role in the transformation of care.

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