As America ages and life expectancy increases, the need for highly skilled nursing is becoming equally important. The Deerbrook Charitable Trust has given UT Arlington a $4.7 million gift for its adult gerontology programs to improve the pipeline of nursing professionals in the field. The gift will fund specialized instruction, scholarships, and create an endowed faculty position for the gerontology-focused graduate nursing programs.
“In nursing education, we focus on meeting the changing needs of society by preparing nursing professionals with relevant knowledge and expertise, including in areas such as gerontology,” said Elizabeth Merwin, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation via release. “To that end, creating more specialized instruction and more scholarship opportunities so our students can concentrate on their studies is of utmost importance.”
“We were impressed by the foundation UTA had created in improving the quality of care for our aging population,” Executive Director Art Sundstrom said via release. “We view our relationship with UTA as an opportunity to expand the pipeline of more qualified professionals in taking care of older adults.”
“I am extremely proud of, and grateful for, the tremendous efforts being made by the faculty in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation in addressing the state’s and nation’s need for highly trained and skilled nurses,” said UTA President Vistasp Karbhari via release. “Their focus on the highest levels of excellence has already been acknowledged by plaudits and rankings, including their recent designation as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, and the increasing demand for their graduates by hospitals and health care providers across the state and nation.”
