November 2024: New Op-Ed, Healthcare Workforce Highlights, Health Commissioner Visit, and more
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Training Tomorrow's Healthcare Workers
In our latest op-ed, BBF's Jud Fisher and Trevor Friedeberg (President & CEO of East Central Indiana Regional Partnership), detail how local community colleges, universities, the IU School of Medicine-Muncie, and hospitals are teaming up to train healthcare professionals who are choosing to stay here and serve our communities.
With cutting-edge simulation labs and partnerships that prepare students for real-world challenges, ECI is becoming the place for healthcare education. This means more skilled workers, better access to care, and a stronger foundation for our region's future.
Special thanks to East Central Indiana Regional Partnership for organizing this week's "Healthcare Workforce Pipeline Summit" for 70+ leaders from across the region. Attendees heard from hospital administrators, higher ed leaders, and students preparing for careers in healthcare, along with keynote speaker Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Commissioner for the Indiana State Department of Health (pictured above).
We're grateful to Ivy Tech for hosting the Summit at the downtown Muncie Fisher Building.
Healthcare Grants Build Momentum
This fall, BBF announced grants totaling $150,000 for programs targeted at building the healthcare workforce pipeline in East Central Indiana.
Among the grants were:
Funding to establish a new EMT pathway program at Ivy Tech
A new course in field trauma for IU School of Medicine-Muncie students + expanded mentoring/advising for Ball State students aspiring to attend medical school
Equipment for Taylor University's new nursing program
Expanded opportunities for medical students and BSU graduate students to work together to provide healthy lifestyle support for local families
A new Medical Assistant training program at Open Door Health Services
A virtual reality training course for IU Health physicians, nurses, residents, nursing students, and IU-School of Medicine-Muncie students
Grantees and other local funders gathered recently to share updates on these-and other efforts-that are gaining momentum as part of "Optimus Primary."
Photos (L to R): BBF's Jud Fisher with Derron Bishop (Director, IU School of Medicine Muncie) at Maplewood Guest House, once a Ball family home and now home to medical students visiting Muncie. Local medical providers and education leaders met at the E.B. Ball Center last month to discuss new healthcare workforce initiatives and partnership opportunities.
ICYMI: Fisher Governance Award Winner
Earlier this month, Dr. John West from Muncie Land Bank was honored with BBF's 2024 Fisher Governance Award.
Dr. West, a founding board member of the Muncie Land Bank, played a pivotal role in securing initial funding and leading efforts to establish it as the first land bank of its kind in Indiana. His work has earned the organization statewide recognition and a strong presence in our local neighborhoods.
BBF On the Road...and On Your Radio!
You can always find our team's latest adventures on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Here are a few November highlights:
Visiting Negasi Gardens to see their farm program in action, supporting efforts to address food insecurity.
Exploring the beautiful new section of trail in Mooreland, made possible by Healthy Communities of Henry County.
Presenting at the Exponent Philanthropy conference in Austin, Texas and connecting with other small-staffed foundations (including our friends from the George and Frances Ball Foundation).
Talking with WMUN about our latest round of grants.