Representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gathered on Monday to celebrate an investment in the University鈥檚聽Physician Assistant Studies聽program.
Blue Cross NC聽聽the $1.2 million gift in February, building on its 2012 investment that established the PA master鈥檚 program. The donation will be used to accommodate more students, recruit top faculty and develop rural sites for students to participate in clinical rotations.
Chancellor Carol L. Folt said the partnership between the University and Blue Cross NC showcases Carolina鈥檚 commitment to providing service to the state.
鈥淭here is nothing [more important] for the citizens of North Carolina than providing quality, accessible and affordable healthcare, and this kind of partnership is absolutely essential to our determination to do that,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are very proud of the Physician Assistant Studies program.鈥�
Housed in the聽, the PA program aims to address the shortage of medical professionals statewide, with a special focus on helping veterans with prior medical training transition to working in civilian health care.
William Roper, dean of the 黑料网 and CEO of 黑料网 Health Care, said the program has done just that. Its inaugural cohort of 20 students 鈥� nearly half of them veterans 鈥� graduated in December 2017.
鈥淭his is a great day in our institution鈥檚 history,鈥� Roper said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e achieved great success so far with much more to come. We owe much of our success in this program to Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina.”
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–By Emilie Poplett, University Communications