Baxter Expands Historically Black Colleges and Universities Partnerships, Funding Commitments to Further the Pipeline of Black Healthcare Professionals

By: Baxter International Inc. via Business Wire

September 07, 2022 at 08:00 AM EDT

New scholarships established with Tennessee State University School of Nursing and Howard University College of Pharmacy
Funding commitment part of Baxter’s Activating Change Today initiative to advance racial justice

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a global medtech leader, today reinforced its commitment to expand the pipeline of Black healthcare professionals through several programs that support Black students pursuing health and science degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For the 2022-2023 calendar year, Baxter is committing $200,000 to create the Baxter Nursing Scholars Award at Tennessee State University’s (TSU) School of Nursing and $200,000 to establish the Baxter Healthcare Scholarship at the Howard University College of Pharmacy, respectively. The announcement follows a $1.2 million commitment established by Baxter in 2021 to support similar programs at Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College and Morehouse College and a $3.5 million partnership between the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Baxter International Foundation. Announced earlier this year, the Baxter HBCU STEM Scholars Program is a three-year, $3.5 million initiative that funds scholarships and mentoring to support students at HBCUs pursuing careers primarily in STEM as well as education.

“Representation in healthcare is a critical factor to improving the relationship between providers and patients,” said Angela Lee, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Baxter. “We are proud to expand our relationships with several highly respected HBCUs, supporting programming that increases the pipeline of Black students in health and sciences fields through the Baxter’s Activating Change Today (ACT) initiative.”

Baxter Nursing Scholars Award at Tennessee State University

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, an anticipated 500,000 nurses will leave the workforce in 2022, bringing the overall shortage to 1.1 million nurses. In partnership with Tennessee State University, Baxter is establishing the Baxter Nursing Scholars Award, awarding four students enrolled in TSU’s School of Nursing $50,000 each for the 2022-2023 calendar year. The aim of the Baxter Nursing Scholars Award is to help combat the increasingly acute nursing shortage and expand the number of skilled nursing professionals from underrepresented communities who may commit to serving Black populated communities, recognizing these communities have traditionally underserved health care needs.

“Baxter’s support will affect the personal and professional trajectories of its recipients by reducing the burden of financial support throughout their matriculation,” said Ronald Barredo, M.D. and dean of the College of Health Sciences at Tennessee State University. “These recipients are able to focus on their education and training, empowering them to become nurses who positively affect the health trajectories of the patients they touch.”

Baxter Healthcare Scholarship at Howard University’s College of Pharmacy

While the pharmacy field continues to experience more racial diversification, the percentage of Black pharmacists remains low, at 4.9%, according to a 2019 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy study.¹ To further support diversity and equity in this field, Baxter is committing $200,000 to establish the Baxter Healthcare Scholarship at Howard University’s College of Pharmacy. Through this program, 8 scholarships of $25,000 will be distributed for the 2022-2023 academic year to students who have displayed an ongoing commitment to serving underprivileged populations through community service and other endeavors during their time as a student at Howard University’s College of Pharmacy.

“Howard’s College of Pharmacy fosters the creation of new knowledge through innovative research and scholarship, commitment to community service, continuous professional development, and dedication to superior pharmacy practice locally and globally,” said Ranti Akiyode, Pharm.D., interim dean of the Howard University College of Pharmacy. “Baxter’s scholarship will enable more students to experience the dedicated cadre of Howard faculty members who are highly experienced in teaching, professional practice, and research, ultimately benefitting their community.”

About Baxter

Every day, millions of patients, caregivers and healthcare providers rely on Baxter’s leading portfolio of diagnostic, critical care, kidney care, nutrition, hospital and surgical products used across patient homes, hospitals, physician offices and other sites of care. For 90 years, we’ve been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers who make it happen. With products, digital health solutions and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter’s employees worldwide are now building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxter.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Tennessee State University School of Nursing

Initially established in 1967 as the Department of Nursing, the School of Nursing at Tennessee State University has had a longstanding history of providing high quality education and preparing future nurses for professional practice. As healthcare has evolved over time, the nursing curricula has also evolved to meet the demands of the current healthcare landscape. The School of Nursing focuses on the preparation of the next generation of nurses through a learning environment that promotes excellence in education, scholarship, and collaborative practice in diverse communities locally and globally. Housed in the College of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing faculty and staff are invested in the success of students who envision themselves in the helping and healing arts.

About Howard College of Pharmacy

Pharmacy instruction at Howard University began in the “Department” of Medicine in 1868. The initial course held in the evening, offered students “knowledge of the art and science of pharmacy.” The College of Pharmacy has the distinct legacy of graduating the very first graduate student at Howard University in 1870; Dr. James Thompson Wormley. Since this early beginning, the College of Pharmacy has been among the leaders in the preparation of individuals for rewarding careers in pharmacy. The College of Pharmacy currently offers an entry-level four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program, a two-year post-B.S. Pharm.D. degree program, a Non-traditional Pharm.D. degree program, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

¹ 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS). https://www.aacp.org/article/pharmacy-profession-becoming-increasingly-diverse-and-trending-younger-survey-shows