HCA HEALTHCARE TO GIVE $10 MILLION TO HBCUs AND HSIs

May 21, 2021 at 04:17 pm by Staff

Sam Hazen

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, announced that it will give $10 million over the next three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in communities near its 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."

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. The company expects 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."

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