Efforts underway to raise funds for Hospital Hill Diversity Council.
The Hospital Hill Diversity Council is raising money to start a new endowed scholarship for University of Missouri-Kansas City health professions students.
The mission of the Hospital Hill Diversity Council is to foster an academic health center community that celebrates diversity; value and respect differences; actively engage in issues of diversity; and develop competences needed to work with diverse populations.
The council includes representatives from Children’s Mercy, Saint Luke’s Health System and Truman Medical Centers along with each school on the UMKC Hospital Hill Campus: School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Studies and School of Pharmacy. Council members say the need for additional scholarship funds for historically underrepresented health professions students — African American, Hispanic and American Indian — keeps increasing.
“The ongoing uncertain economy, rising tuition costs and the shortage of healthcare providers have created a critical demand,” said Eve McGee, director of diversity and inclusion at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. “Educating a diverse workforce is linked to the ability to provide quality patient care.”
The first fundraising event was held in September. The Hospital Hill Diversity Council sponsored the Health Sciences Scholarship Dinner and Dance at UMKC’s Pierson Auditorium. The dance featured music played by popular Kansas City DJ Myron D, a mix of R&B hits, salsa and world music.
Reviewed 2013-12-11