$3.1 Million St. David’s Gift Establishes New MSN Degrees, Scholarships

AUSTIN – The St. David’s Foundation has donated $3.1 million to Texas State University in support of the St. David’s School of Nursing at the university’s Round Rock Campus.

The gift consists of two parts. The first is for $2 million to develop two new degrees — a Master of Science in Nursing major in Nursing Health Care Leadership, and a Master of Science in Nursing major in Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The second is for $110,000 per year over 10 years to be used for graduate nursing scholarships.

The second portion of the gift is eligible for a 50 percent match under the Texas Research Incentive Program, which could yield another $550,000 for nursing scholarships if approved.

“We are humbled to have such transformational support from the St. David’s Foundation, which has given and continues to give to the St. David’s School of Nursing,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth.  “The university is fortunate to have a partner that shares a commitment to providing health care education and serving the health care needs of Central Texas and the state.”

Texas Workforce Commission officials have projected that more than 1,000 nurse leaders will be needed to fill new medical and health services management positions each year through 2022, with approximately 400 jobs per year needed for mental health nurse practitioners through the same period. Adding the two tracks to the St. David’s School of Nursing MSN program will help address this pressing need. Implementation will begin in fall 2017 with 40 new students enrolling in the Nursing Health Care Leadership track, and continue in fall 2018 with 40 new students enrolling in the Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track.

The Nursing Health Care Leadership program will prepare nurses to function as nurse leaders, with the goal of improving health care delivery and patient outcomes. The Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track will prepare nurses to provide a holistic and full spectrum of medical care and psychiatric/mental health care.

Prior to the current gift, Texas State has received more than $13 million in gifts and pledges from the St. David’s Foundation, including $5 million in 2015 to help fund construction of a new Health Professions Building at the university’s Round Rock Campus and $6 million in 2006 to establish the St. David’s School of Nursing.

About St. David’s Foundation

St. David’s Foundation believes good health returns great benefits to the community.

Through a unique partnership, the Foundation reinvests proceeds from St. David’s HealthCare to help build the healthiest community in the world. The Foundation helps people in every corner of the community through signature programs and collaborations with more than 60 nonprofit partners. In 2016, the Foundation plans to invest more than $75 million to connect thousands of low-income people to a full range of health services.

Foundation signature programs include the largest scholarship program in Texas for aspiring health professionals, and the largest mobile dental program in the country. Other focus areas include safety net clinics, agencies serving older adults, mental health initiatives, and support for healthy living initiatives.