A new program aimed at increasing student-body diversity in the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing program has been created. Funded by a three-year, $659,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, the program's goal is to recruit and retain baccalaureate students — from under-represented portions of the population — who might lack the funds and support systems to succeed in health science programs.

"There is a great need to decrease health disparities and ensure that our health care community reflects the population it serves," said Deborah A. Smith, nursing instructor and principal grant investigator. "To serve a diverse population, we have to attract, retain and support a diverse student body."

"There are a number of under-represented students who are challenged by the demanding pace and rigorous courses offered at health sciences universities," said Shirley Quarles, assistant dean for community partnerships in the school of nursing and a co-investigator for the program.

"This program will address the problems through peer tutoring, enrichment activities and a scholarship program offering up to $120,000 of student financial support over the next three years," Smith said.

Next summer, the program will host a nursing career summer camp for selected undergraduate pre-nursing students. Participants will take a modified pathophysiology introductory course and will learn good study habits and time management.

The program will focus on local students the first year, but, by working with Area Health Education Centers, officials plan to expand the reach statewide.

NEW CHIEF: Amy Dorrill has been named chief development officer by Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

"Our work is compelling and its continuation rests heavily on our ability to identify and foster supportive relationships," said Marla Salmon, Sc.D., RN, dean of the nursing school. "Ms. Dorrill brings exceptional expertise and experience to our school."

Dorrill will oversee the nursing school's pending comprehensive campaign to secure funding for its priorities, and will hire an alumni relations officer and two major gift officers. She previously served as chief development officer at the University Health Care System in Augusta.

RN CAREER FAIR: MCG Health System in Augusta will hold its third annual RN Interview Experience on Oct. 10. The registration-only career fair is open to registered nurses and graduating nursing students.

The fair, which will be in the Terrace Dining Room in the MCG Medical Center, will run from 4 to 7 p.m.

There will be onsite interviews with hiring managers from MCG Health System. Those interested in scheduling an interview should pre-register at www.MCGHealth.org/careers before Oct. 9.

For information, call 706-721-1523.

PERFORMANCE AWARD: Thompson Healthcare, a leading provider of health care information and decision support, has named Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta a Thompson 100 Top Hospitals Performance Improvement Leader for 2006.

The company studied 2,800 U.S. hospitals in a variety of clinical, financial and operational areas and identified 100 hospitals that improved the most from 2001 to 2005. The study rated hospitals on eight factors: patient mortality, medical complication, patient safety, length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio and growth in patient volume.

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