FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2013
For information contact:
Elizabeth Duncan, Director of Media and Public Relations
(208) 367-8121— Desk (208) 724-8047—Cell
duncanec@sarmc.org
SAINT ALPHONSUS LOAN PROVIDES 41 BOISE STATE HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COMING ACADEMIC YEAR
More than 40 Boise State University Health Sciences students will receive scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year thanks to an innovative loan from Saint Alphonsus Health System.
The $2 million loan, invested through the Boise State University Foundation’s endowment in 2011, has earned more than $131,000 which will be used by the university’s College of Health Sciences to create 10 scholarships for graduate students and 31 undergraduate scholarships for students pursuing nursing and other health-related degrees. The scholarships will primarily be awarded based on financial need. These scholarships will be the first awarded at Boise State through this program.
“This is great news and it will allow the College of Health Sciences to offer a more generous scholarship package than ever before,” said Tim Dunnagan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “I feel so fortunate to live in a state and community where leaders like Saint Alphonsus are developing innovative solutions that will take healthcare delivery through its next constructive evolution.”
Saint Alphonsus Health System is a participant in Trinity Health’s community investment a program - designed to assist communities in improving the health of people living in the service area of its member hospitals. The community investment program provides a low cost loan from the Trinity Health investment program to a university. The university then can invest the funds and use the difference between the investment returns and the interest payments to provide scholarships. Boise State is the third university in the nation to benefit from the program.
“Investing in our communities is critically important to our mission throughout the Saint Alphonsus Health System,” said Sally Jeffcoat, President and CEO, Saint Alphonsus Health System. “Providing access to a career in healthcare is a way of creating jobs in our region and training highly qualified professionals at a distinguished university. We are pleased that Boise State is working with Saint Alphonsus toward this goal.”
Dunnagan said he is particularly excited about the graduate scholarships, which will be awarded to students in advanced degree programs such as the college’s new doctoral degree in nursing practice and master’s degree program in adult gerontological nursing. Both programs will be introduced at Boise State during the next academic year.
“These students will learn how to develop new ways of providing health care within a healthcare reform environment and provide needed clinical support to the aging population in the U.S.,” said Dunnagan. “Each day for the next 18 years 10,000 individuals will turn 65 years of age. Those who earn these advanced nursing degrees will play a significant role in providing care for this population.”
Media contact Boise State University: Mike Journee, University Advancement, (208) 426-1517,
mikejournee@boisestate.edu
About Boise State University
A public metropolitan research university with more than 22,000 students, Boise State is proud to be powered by creativity and innovation. Located in Idaho’s capital city, the university has a growing research agenda and plays a crucial role in the region’s knowledge economy and famed quality of life. In the past 10 years, the university has quadrupled the number of doctoral degrees, doubled its masters degrees and now offers 13 online degree programs. Learn more at www.BoiseState.edu.
About Saint Alphonsus Health System
Saint Alphonsus Health System is a four-hospital, 714-bed regional, faith-based Catholic ministry with over 4,300 Associates and 950 medical staff. Serving the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada, Saint Alphonsus Health System is comprised of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Group, with over 200 primary care and specialty care providers at 35 clinic locations. As a not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvests profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System is a member of Trinity Health, Novi, Michigan. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsushealthsystem.org