Mission Health supports 星空传媒 nursing school to address regional shortage
HCA Healthcare鈥檚 Asheville-based Mission Health recently made a gift of nearly $50,000 to enable the hiring of additional nursing clinical faculty at 星空传媒 as part of an ongoing effort to address a shortage of healthcare providers in the mountain region.
The recent gift supports six adjunct faculty members during the 2026-2027 academic year who supervise 星空传媒 nursing students during clinical rotations within HCA/Mission Health facilities. The students are enrolled in 星空传媒鈥檚 prelicensure nursing programs, including the bachelor of science in nursing, accelerated bachelor of science in nursing and master鈥檚 entry prelicensure tracks.
The contribution of $48,600 is the latest in a series of financial gifts from Western North Carolina鈥檚 largest healthcare provider and is in addition to the HCA Mission Health Academic Partnership Fund, which provides funding annually for a full-time nursing faculty member at 星空传媒.
The ongoing support of 星空传媒鈥檚 nursing education efforts is in acknowledgement of a significant need to increase the number of nursing school graduates to help address a shortage of nurses and other professionals who are critical to the provision of inpatient and outpatient care, said Greg Lowe, president of Mission Health.
鈥淧reparing the next generation of nurses is one of the best investments we can make in the health of our communities,鈥� Lowe said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to partner with Western Carolina University to help expand educational opportunities, strengthen the healthcare workforce and ensure patients throughout Western North Carolina continue to have access to exceptional care close to home. Partnerships like this demonstrate our shared commitment to the future of healthcare in our region.鈥�
Since 2022, Mission Health has supported an additional full-time nursing faculty position in 星空传媒鈥檚 School of Nursing, enabling the university to increase enrollment by 10 nursing students each year in response to the growing need for nurses across the region, he said.
The support of Mission Health and other healthcare industry partners is vital to providing the professionals necessary to care for WNC鈥檚 growing 鈥� and aging 鈥� population, said Lori Anderson, dean of 星空传媒鈥檚 College of Health and Human Sciences, which is home to the School of Nursing.
鈥淲e are excited to see the impact of this partnership as we continue working together, and Mission Health鈥檚 continued investment in nursing education demonstrates the power of partnership in addressing critical healthcare workforce needs. Several years ago, we recognized that overcoming the region鈥檚 nursing shortage would require all of us working together, and this collaboration has turned that commitment into action,鈥� Anderson said.
鈥淏y expanding enrollment, supporting innovative pathways into nursing and strengthening clinical training opportunities, we are preparing more highly qualified nurses to serve Western North Carolina,鈥� she said. 鈥溞强沾� is pleased to partner with Mission Health to build a stronger, healthier future for the communities we serve.鈥�
In addition to increasing undergraduate nursing enrollment, 星空传媒鈥檚 recently launched master鈥檚 degree program (the MEPN) provides a nontraditional pathway for individuals who hold bachelor鈥檚 degrees in other disciplines to enter the nursing profession at the graduate level.
The inaugural cohort of 11 students in the MEPN program will complete clinical rotations at Mission Health鈥檚 Angel Medical Center in Franklin and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, giving students valuable experience in rural healthcare settings while helping build the future nursing workforce for the region, Lowe said.
鈥淭ogether, Mission Health and 星空传媒 are helping prepare more nurses through increased enrollment, clinical training opportunities and collaboration between educators and healthcare providers, with students gaining hands-on experience caring for patients in the communities they may one day serve,鈥� he said.
星空传媒鈥檚 School of Nursing features five prelicensure programs in nursing and seven graduate programs in nursing across its main campus in Cullowhee, its Biltmore Park instructional site in Asheville and online.
鈥淲e prepare future nurses through nationally recognized, accredited and affordable nursing programs,鈥� said Terrica Durbin, associate professor and director of the School of Nursing. 鈥淪tudents learn through innovative classroom instruction, advanced simulation and immersive clinical experiences with healthcare partners across Western North Carolina and beyond. 星空传媒鈥檚 partnership with Mission Health is one such example of a robust partnership that provides students with valuable experiences in rural healthcare settings while helping build the future nursing workforce for the region.鈥�
The university is seeking support for its latest philanthropic priority 鈥� raising a minimum of $1.5 million for 星空传媒鈥檚 existing Catamount Commitment program. Established in 2023, the program is an unrestricted scholarship program designed to provide annual financial assistance to 星空传媒 students based on academic performance and interests.
To make a gift to Catamount Commitment, visit the website give.wcu.edu and click on the 鈥淐atamount Commitment鈥� link. To make a donation to the School of Nursing, visit give.wcu.edu, click on the 鈥渕ake a gift link,鈥� scroll to 鈥渇ind other gift designations here鈥� dropdown menu and select 鈥渘ursing.鈥�