UT Health San Antonio has received a $6.5 million gift to establish the Harvey E. Najim Pediatric Health Scholars Program and strengthen its healthcare workforce.
Five things to know:
1. The program will support training across multiple pediatric disciplines, including 36 pediatric dental residents, 24 pediatric medical subspecialists and 32 pediatric nurse practitioners, according to a March 26 news release. It will also fund three scholarships annually for students in dentistry, medicine and nursing engaged in community service.
2. Philanthropist Harvey Najim, who made the gift, also supported the establishment of the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement, the release said.
3. The initiative aims to expand the pediatric workforce pipeline and improve access to specialty care in high-need areas. It will focus on reducing financial barriers during training and increasing the number of clinicians serving children and families in South Texas.
4. Nearly 6 in 10 physicians who completed graduate medical education in Texas remained in the state, rising to 86.2% among those who also completed medical school in Texas, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
5. UT Health San Antonio reported retention rates of 94% for nursing graduates, 88% for doctoral-level nursing graduates and 64% for dental graduates.
The academic health center employs more than 1,500 providers who deliver more than 2.5 million patient visits each year.
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