HCA Healthcare South Atlantic Division Announces $650,000 Donation from HCA Healthcare to Savannah State University

HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division recently announced that HCA Healthcare will donate $650,000 to Savannah State University (SSU) to support a paid internship program for students pursuing a master’s degree in social work. This donation is part of HCA Healthcare’s broader commitment to donate $10 million over three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

“We are thrilled to partner with this nationally recognized social work program,” said Hugh C. Tappan, president of HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division. “The opportunity to allow more students to explore social work, partner with a nationally recognized program at a nationally recognized college, and gain access to future colleagues is truly exciting! We hope this will be the beginning of a broader relationship with SSU.”

“We are proud to partner with SSU to provide students with the opportunity to find rewarding careers in health and social work,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer at HCA Healthcare. “Memorial Health University Medical Center has developed a strong relationship with the university and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on the community.”

Funds from this gift will support paid internships for two Master of Social Work cohorts over four years, helping students complete the 900 clinical hours required for their degree at Memorial Health University Medical Center. Through this cohort, students will have access to job shadowing opportunities and mentors through HCA Healthcare. This gift will also provide a stipend for a program preceptor, who will serve as a liaison between Memorial Health University Medical Center and SSU.

“Social workers play a critical role in our hospital as advocates who support the patient throughout their journey to home,” said Bradley S. Talbert, chief executive officer of Memorial Health University Medical Center. “Savannah State University has a highly regarded social work program at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.”

“We have had the opportunity to partner with the SSU Social Work program by providing internships to their students and are excited to strengthen our positive relationship through this grant.”

Founded in 1890, SSU is Georgia’s first public HBCU and the first institution of higher education in Savannah, Georgia. The university serves an increasingly diverse student body with more than 3,000 students from across the state and beyond. The university’s Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and designed to prepare students to enter advanced social work practice.

“At Savannah State University, we are deeply committed to fostering strong, effective partnerships that enhance the educational experiences of our students and serve our community,” said Cynthia Robinson Alexander, JD, interim president of SSU. “Our collaboration with HCA Healthcare is a shining example of that commitment. This partnership between our prestigious social work program and the hospital allows our students to gain invaluable hands-on experience while contributing to the well-being of patients and their families. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future for our community.”

HCA Healthcare has a history of partnering with higher education institutions across the country to help create a more diverse workforce. Recently, HCA Healthcare donated $200,000 to St. Mary’s University to support its Greehey School of Business. Last fall, HCA Healthcare donated $620,000 to the University of California, Riverside (UCR) to support scholarships for students in the UCR School of Medicine. In 2022, HCA Healthcare donated $1.5 million to Tennessee State University (TSU) to create scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in health and informatics and $1.5 million to Fisk University to support scholarships for students pursuing careers in health and dual degrees with the Galen College of Nursing. That same year, the organization also donated $750,000 to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to create multiple graduate degree opportunities for students interested in careers in healthcare administration. Additionally, $1.5 million was awarded to the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences (NWCNHS) at Florida International University (FIU) to expand its faculty, provide scholarships to increase enrollment, and help address the national nursing shortage.

In 2021, HCA Healthcare announced a $1.5 million investment in the School of Allied Health Sciences at Florida A&M University (FAMU) to strengthen undergraduate and graduate student pathways to healthcare management careers. These and other partnerships with industry and academic associations are part of HCA Healthcare’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the diversity of the organization’s talent pipeline.