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HCA Healthcare strengthens partnership with Tennessee State University
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HCA Healthcare is donating $1.5 million to Tennessee State University (TSU) to fund scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in healthcare and computer science.
Today, HCA Healthcare is proud to announce that will give $1.5 million to Tennessee State University (TSU) to create scholarship opportunities for students enrolled in the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute and the Department of Computer Science within the College of Engineering. This gift is part of the organization’s larger commitment to give $10 million over three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). Since making the pledge in 2021, HCA Healthcare has announced approximately $5.25 million in donations toward multiple partnerships.
“We are proud of the long-standing relationship we have fostered with TSU. By strengthening our partnership, we will be able to create additional opportunities for TSU students and further our commitment to advancing diversity in healthcare.”
Sam Hazen, chief executive officer for HCA Healthcare
Funds from this gift will support scholarships for students participating in the university’s Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute Accelerated Medical Pathway program. Three two-year scholarships for rising juniors and three two-year scholarships for graduate students within the College of Engineering will also be awarded. Through these scholarship programs, HCA Healthcare Scholars and HCA Healthcare ITG Scholars will be provided with hands on shadowing opportunities, mentors, seminars, leadership sessions, guest speakers and career guidance. HCA Healthcare will also offer dedicated internship opportunities in the ITG Pathways, Technical Resident and Part-Time Internship programs annually to TSU students.
“It is an honor to partner with TSU to support more students pursuing careers in healthcare and, in turn, helping to build a diverse talent pipeline of healthcare professionals,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer of HCA Healthcare. “Increasing the diversity of our healthcare workforce is vital to providing equitable, culturally competent care to our communities.”
HCA Healthcare has a history of partnering with TSU. In 2015, HCA Healthcare gave $1 million to TSU to fund internship opportunities and support the growth of the Health Information Management program. Marty Paslick, chief information officer for HCA Healthcare, serves as an advisory board member for the College of Engineering where there are currently seven HCA Healthcare colleagues serving as adjunct faculty.
“We applaud and thank HCA Healthcare for this generous gift and continued support of TSU, and our talented students. This investment in our students helps them to become the future doctors and health technology leaders they aspire to be. HCA Healthcare is making their dreams a reality.”
Glenda Glover, president of Tennessee State University
HCA Healthcare is committed to partnering with organizations to help develop a diverse pool of future healthcare leaders. Included among these partnerships:
- $750,000 to The University of Texas at El Paso to create multiple graduate-degree opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers.
- $1.5 million to Florida International University’s (FIU) Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences (NWCNHS) to expand its faculty, offer scholarships to increase enrollment and help address the national nursing shortage.
- $1.5 million investment in Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Allied Health Sciences to strengthen students’ pathways from undergraduate to graduate to management careers in the healthcare industry.
- HCA Healthcare Scholars at Fisk University program was created to provide scholarships, career planning support and internship opportunities for high-achieving undergraduates.
These partnerships and others with industry- and school-based associations are part of HCA Healthcare’s continued efforts to strengthen the diversity of the organization’s talent pipeline.
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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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