FAMU SOAHS Announces $1.5M Partnership with HCA Healthcare
Donation will include scholarships and internships to strengthen pathways to management careers for students in the School of Allied Health Sciences.
Tallahassee– HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation’s leading health care providers, announced Thursday, December 2, that it will donate $1.5 million to Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Allied Health Sciences to strengthen students’ pathways from undergraduate to graduate to management careers in the health care industry.
The partnership is part of HCA Healthcare’s broader commitment announced earlier this year to give $10 million over the next three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in order to advance diversity in health care.
HCA Healthcare executives and staff joined state and local elected officials and FAMU administrators, faculty, students and staff at the SOAHS Lewis-Beck Building in Tallahassee for a formal announcement Thursday afternoon. Scholarship recipients, Shideley Larochelle, Chandrahasa Srinivasa, and Ja’Kala Fudge attended the event.
“Through Capital Regional Medical Center and HCA Healthcare’s Tallahassee-based North Florida Division, the health system has a long history of collaboration with FAMU,” said Chuck Hall, Group President of HCA Healthcare. “This partnership strengthens our relationship with a leading university, provides exciting healthcare career opportunities for FAMU students, and helps advance diversity in healthcare.”
The partnership between HCA Healthcare and FAMU will help increase undergraduate and graduate student enrollment in the School of Allied Health Sciences, with funding directed toward scholarships and internships to support the next generation of health care leaders. Additionally, the funding will support the building and operations of the School of Allied Health Sciences Simulation Lab that will be named the HCA Florida Healthcare Simulation Lab.
“We are excited to announce this partnership with FAMU to further our commitment to advancing diversity in healthcare,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer of HCA Healthcare. “This partnership demonstrates our continued efforts in developing a diverse pipeline of healthcare professionals and future leaders which allows us to continue to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.”
FAMU is the nation’s highest ranked public HBCU and the only HBCU in the 11-member Florida State University System. FAMU is also the only HBCU with an accredited Master in Health Administration program. HCA Healthcare affiliate, Capital Regional Medical Center, and FAMU have a long history of collaboration through leadership involvement in the university’s advisory boards and placement of students in clinical rotations and healthcare career pathways.
“The ongoing pandemic reminds us daily of the crucial importance of providing an adequate pipeline of skilled health care professionals,” said Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “This timely and generous partnership allows FAMU to train more students who will join the frontlines of those fighting to protect America’s health. We thank HCA Healthcare for its leadership and vision.”
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.