Coppin State University received the largest philanthropic gift in its history that will support health care initiatives, including addressing a shortage of health care workers.CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield announced Wednesday it’s donating $6.225 million to enhance access to health care, to train the next generation of health care leaders and to create a statewide coalition linking Maryland’s colleges and health systems to students entering health professions.”(Historically Black College and Universities) receive 178 times less funding than Ivy League institutions, despite being engines of growth and innovation for communities of color,” Brian Pieninck, the president and CEO of CareFirst, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Coppin State responds to a critical need for a well-trained pool of health care professionals and greater access to quality care while strengthening a hub for transformative solutions. This investment is about more than expanding services — it’s about shifting the trajectory of our communities by improving opportunity and access.”Coppin State has had a critical role in community health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when its health center provided care while other health care facilities were unavailable.The university serves a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area in west Baltimore, where residents face persistent gaps in primary, dental and mental health care.”This partnership is something special and an investment that will have a lasting impact on our students and the west side of Baltimore,” Anthony L. Jenkins, the president of Coppin State, said in a statement. “CareFirst’s partnership affirms what we already know to be true — Baltimore’s future is bright when we invest in our own. Together, we are creating jobs, improving health and expanding opportunity for future generations.”CareFirst said the funding will support three core initiatives:Enhancing the accessibility of quality health care through the renovation and expansion of services at Coppin State’s health center, enabling it to serve more residents with a broader range of primary and behavioral health services.Advancing a health care workforce through a CareFirst scholarship program, which will train future health care professionals at the health center to support the health and economic prosperity of Maryland communities.Establishing a statewide coalition of Maryland higher education institutions and health care partners to share resources and streamline the pipeline from two- to four-year degree programs.
Coppin State University received the largest philanthropic gift in its history that will support health care initiatives, including addressing a shortage of health care workers.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield announced Wednesday it’s donating $6.225 million to enhance access to health care, to train the next generation of health care leaders and to create a statewide coalition linking Maryland’s colleges and health systems to students entering health professions.
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“(Historically Black College and Universities) receive 178 times less funding than Ivy League institutions, despite being engines of growth and innovation for communities of color,” Brian Pieninck, the president and CEO of CareFirst, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Coppin State responds to a critical need for a well-trained pool of health care professionals and greater access to quality care while strengthening a hub for transformative solutions. This investment is about more than expanding services — it’s about shifting the trajectory of our communities by improving opportunity and access.”
Coppin State has had a critical role in community health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when its health center provided care while other health care facilities were unavailable.
The university serves a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area in west Baltimore, where residents face persistent gaps in primary, dental and mental health care.
“This partnership is something special and an investment that will have a lasting impact on our students and the west side of Baltimore,” Anthony L. Jenkins, the president of Coppin State, said in a statement. “CareFirst’s partnership affirms what we already know to be true — Baltimore’s future is bright when we invest in our own. Together, we are creating jobs, improving health and expanding opportunity for future generations.”
CareFirst said the funding will support three core initiatives:
Enhancing the accessibility of quality health care through the renovation and expansion of services at Coppin State’s health center, enabling it to serve more residents with a broader range of primary and behavioral health services.
Advancing a health care workforce through a CareFirst scholarship program, which will train future health care professionals at the health center to support the health and economic prosperity of Maryland communities.
Establishing a statewide coalition of Maryland higher education institutions and health care partners to share resources and streamline the pipeline from two- to four-year degree programs.
