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SC BlueCross Foundation Presents $250,000 Grant to MUSC College of Nursing

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Charleston, S.C. — The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation presented a $250,000 check to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing here today. The college will use the funds for a project called “Expanding the Pipeline of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners,” which entails adding 70 doctoral students per year who will become nurse practitioners working in primary care throughout the state, including rural areas. 

“The MUSC College of Nursing is so very appreciative of this grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation. With their support, we have entered into a true partnership focused on improving the health of the people of South Carolina. Our College of Nursing has risen to the challenge of providing primary care nurse practitioners who can open the doors of access to quality healthcare. This grant allows us to double the numbers of advanced practice nurses who will serve the people of our state. This would not have been possible without this partnership,” said Dr. Gail Stuart, dean of the MUSC College of Nursing. 

“The BlueCross Foundation is pleased to be able to support the College of Nursing’s goal to prepare more graduates to practice nursing at the highest clinical level. Most of these students are from South Carolina; they stay in South Carolina and many go into primary care in the rural areas where there is a critical need for more medical practitioners,” said Foundation Executive Director Harvey Galloway. “Our nursing workforce is crucial for meeting the needs of underserved populations in South Carolina, yet our state ranks 35th nationally in the number of nurse practitioners. We see this as an excellent investment to improve the health of our citizens.” 

Today’s event was one in a series the foundation is hosting around the state to present its grants and honor the recipients in front of community and business leaders. Since the foundation was established in 2003, it has allocated more than $40.4 million in South Carolina to address issues such as childhood health, community health, mental health, obesity, diabetes, nursing and health research, and the increasing need for free medical clinics. 

About MUSC College of Nursing 

Located in Charleston, S.C., the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing is the only academic health sciences center in South Carolina. MUSC College of Nursing has the largest accelerated BSN degree-nursing program in South Carolina and is a leader in online graduate education. 

About the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation 

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of the BlueCross and BlueShield Association. Its mission is to promote the health of South Carolinians and to expand access to health care in South Carolina for the economically disadvantaged by supporting integrated research, education and community service.