Owensboro Mercy Health System
Supports Nursing Scholarships At WKU
July 10, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - An Owensboro, Ky. hospital is opening new doors addressing a regional shortage of nursing professionals.
Owensboro Mercy Health System has made a gift of $65,000 this year, annually renewable for up to five years for a total of $325,000 if renewed, to support 10 nursing scholarships for students who agree to return to the hospital to work upon graduation.
According to Vicki Stogsdill, Owensboro Mercy's senior vice president of operations, the scholarships will be awarded to students who possess qualities that reflect the core commitments of OMHS, which are integrity, teamwork, innovation, respect, service and excellence.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there will be a deficit of more than 1 million nurses nationally by the year 2010 due to an aging population and technological advances. This scholarship program was created to specifically address this need.
"This is an excellent and innovative example of how a public university can work with private support to meet the needs of our region," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "These scholarships help students by enabling deserving men and women to pursue careers in nursing. They also assist the community by helping fill a void in the marketplace and keeping our graduates employed in this region."
Stogsdill said: "We are pleased that ODCH Inc. has approved the nursing scholarships for Western Kentucky University, because of the quality of the program and the success that past graduates have had at OMHS. The scholarships will support nursing students from our region which will help to alleviate the nursing shortage and expand the program at Western."
Owensboro Mercy Health System serves communities in western Kentucky and southern Indiana with the support of more than 2,500 employees and a medical staff of more than 170 physicians. Its 811 East Parrish Ave. location has 453 beds and also provides outpatient and emergency services. The HealthPark, located at 1006 Ford Ave., offers outpatient diagnostics, a health and fitness center, a health resource center, outpatient therapy, and a chapel. A number of physician offices also are located here. Convenient Care, located at 608 Frederica St., is a treatment center for minor illnesses and injuries.
For more information, contact Tom Hiles at (270) 745-6208. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
