Nemours Donates Two Full Scholarships for First UCF College of Medicine Class
Nemours Enterprise
Thursday, March 06, 2008 @ 07:03 PM EST
by: Jarod Cady
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Ph: (407) 427-0827
ORLANDO, Fla…Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, today announced the donation of two full paid scholarships for the inaugural class of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine. The organization’s commitment reaffirms its dedication to providing quality medical education while also helping to ensure the success of the future Lake Nona medical city that will be home to the approved Nemours Children’s Hospital.
“Nemours is supporting the UCF College of Medicine with these scholarships to assist the medical school in attracting the brightest and most well rounded students for its first class,” said Jeffery E. Green, Nemours vice president and chief administrative officer. “Nemours’ support of the College of Medicine will also stimulate interest in needed pediatric specialty areas, as well as aid the UCF College of Medicine in providing the highest caliber of medical education.”
With the creation of the Nemours Children’s Hospital, the organization will play an increasing role in training pediatric subspecialists through the development of medical student programs, postgraduate resident programs and fellowship training in areas of concentrated interest. The organization already has longstanding academic partners that include the Mayo Clinic Medical College, the University of Delaware, the University of Florida and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In 2006 alone, Nemours trained over 600 medical students, residents and fellows across the entire enterprise.
Each scholarship totals $160,000 and will cover the cost of tuition and living expenses of two medical students for four years. This represents a donation of $320,000. The Nemours Foundation has granted one full scholarship, and the second is funded in part by the A.I. duPont Testamentary Trust and the Ed Ball Fund. The first class of the UCF College of Medicine will commence in 2009.
“We are grateful to have the support of an organization so well known and regarded for pediatric care,” said the dean of the College of Medicine, Deborah C. German, M.D. “Nemours, like many of our donors, recognizes the unique opportunity to invest in the future of our community’s healthcare.”
The College of Medicine kicked off a campaign in June 2007 to raise $6.4 million so it could provide all 40 incoming medical students in the charter class with a full scholarship. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, no other medical school has funded an entire class. The goal is to attract the best and brightest to the new school. With the two new scholarships, the college currently has 31 of the 40 scholarships funded.
The four-year medical program will capitalize on UCF’s existing strengths in biomedical sciences, modeling and simulation, and optics and photonics. Other programs in material sciences, psychology, hospitality management, chemistry, film and digital media, and nursing will support the program. Eventually the college will produce about 120 medical graduates each year. The college will be located on the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona.
In June 2007, the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) approved Nemours’ Certificate Of Need (CON) application that set forth a comprehensive plan for conducting clinical research, graduate medical education, allied health training, and specialty clinical services delivered through a pediatric hospital and comprehensive children’s clinic in Lake Nona. Nemours recently reached a state approved agreement with the two community hospitals to drop their appeals of the agency’s June decision, allowing the organization to move forward with the establishment of a top-tier pediatric health care system. This will position Nemours’ campus in close proximity to the future UCF College of Medicine, Burnham Institute for Medical Research and Veterans Affairs Hospital.
Photo 1: Jeffery E. Green, Nemours vice president and chief administrative officer and Deborah C. German, M.D., dean of the UCF College of Medicine
Photo 2: Rendering of the new UCF College of Medicine
modified: Thursday, March 06, 2008 @ 07:00 PM EST
created: Thursday, March 06, 2008 @ 07:00 PM EST
About Nemours
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.
Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.
Nemours employs over 4,200 individuals, including 400 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2006. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.
