The Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio on June 15 reached two significant milestones in its financial support of students at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The Foundation announced an annual scholarship gift of $250,000 for academic year 2016-2017, and has now given more than $2 million ($2,050,370) to Health Science Center students across the health care disciplines since 2005.
“This is the largest scholarship gift to the Health Science Center in the history of the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, and I am profoundly grateful,” said William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, president of the Health Science Center.
“The UT Health Science Center remains a significant partner as the Foundation furthers its God-ordained mission, and is a wonderful steward of our Lord’s money,” said Cody S. Knowlton, president and CEO of the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio.
The scholarships will benefit students in the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing and School of Health Professions, and students in the affiliated UT Austin College of Pharmacy clinical pharmacy program who study at the Health Science Center.
“Students in each of our schools will be touched by this generosity, and this is a very significant impact to our mission to educate the next generation of leaders in health care,” Dr. Henrich said.
In addition to scholarships, the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio has supported Health Science Center programs including:
—The Biggs Institute for Alzheimer and Neurodegenerative Diseases ($1,050,000 in gifts announced last December)
—A two-year grant, “Promoting a Comprehensive Palliative Care Program for Children” ($250,000 in 2009)
—A project utilizing two-way video with children and families to stop the diabetes and obesity cycle ($250,000 in 2006)
—A project assessing the mental health needs of Bexar County adolescents to identify reasons young people are not getting into treatment ($165,000 in 2010)
—Enhancement of student education through community service learning projects coordinated by the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics (a renewal grant of $121,050 was awarded in 2014)
—Four basic and translational research projects on aging ($120,000 in 2012)
—Expansion of the Lions Low Vision Rehabilitation Center at the UT Health Science Center (funds were procured by Lions Clubs International District 2-A2 from the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio)
The Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio began awarding grants in 2005 to help organizations provide clinical, educational, spiritual and scientific services. The Foundation serves Bexar and the following surrounding counties: Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Medina and Bandera.
Including the 2016 scholarship funding, the Foundation has given more than $4.5 million to Health Science Center scholarships and programs.