Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 20, 2004 – Baptist Memorial Health Care will award $1 million in educational grants to nursing and allied health students within the next year.

The grant program will cover the last two years of tuition for full-time students enrolled in a four-year program and both years for students enrolled in a two-year program. Students, including Baptist employees and family members, must already be accepted to an approved program or school and agree to work for Baptist after completing their program to qualify for a grant. The grant program is an extension of a program started at the Baptist College of Health Sciences in 2002.

Baptist’s selection criteria will include a student’s grade point average, resume, interview and an essay written by the student. Baptist will target students enrolled in programs for priority areas of need in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“We are investing in this grant program because it’s the right thing to do for our patients and communities,” said David Hogan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “Attracting qualified and talented people to enter the health care field is an important issue—one deserving our complete support. We hope our investment will encourage other organizations to do the same.”

The selection process for the grants will begin immediately. Baptist will reassess the grant program annually.

This grant program is part of Baptist’s efforts to attract workers to the health care field. Other strategies include salaries competitive with other professions, flexible schedules and partnerships with local colleges and universities.

One of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the United States, Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South. The BMHCC network consists of 17 hospitals; more than 2,700 affiliated physicians; home, hospice and psychiatric care throughout the tri-state area; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences.

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