baylor scott & white health Health Care Reimagined medical ministry
Bethany Ferguson , a Baylor Scott & White Health operations consultant , always dreamed of visiting Africa . Thanks to a scholarship from Baylor Scott & White ’ s Joel T . Allison Faith in Action Initiatives ( FIAI ), she fulfilled that dream when she took a mission trip to Uganda and Kenya .
In Africa , Bethany engaged students accustomed to a lecture-based teaching style with hands-on science experiments . She also spent time in a local clinic taking vital signs . Her colleagues even added a bonus to the mission work she provided on her trip . They raised enough money to allow her to deliver shoes for 150 students at the Galileo School in Uganda .
“ The support I received from Baylor Scott & White allowed me to help others in need and experience a new culture ,” Bethany said . “ Not only did Baylor Scott & White help fund my trip , but they recognized the importance of my ministry efforts .”
FIAI provided more than 90 scholarships to Baylor Scott & White Health employees in 2015 to serve in developing nations in Southeast Asia and Africa . The organization mobilizes the Baylor Scott & White system and like-minded organizations to address the medical and spiritual needs of communities locally and around the world through education , missions , redirection of resources and disaster relief .
Internationally , FIAI has delivered $ 400,000 worth of supplies to Syrian refugees in Hungary and 10,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to Sierra Leone and Liberia during the Ebola crisis . The program ’ s Second Life Resources ( SLR ) has locations in both North and Central Texas , and donates gently used medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in need . Following a Christmas tornado in Garland , FIAI relief efforts included the donation of medical supplies , baby formula and toiletry kits and the enlistment of volunteers for cleanup . Scores of nonprofit organizations benefit from SLR annually .
Former CEO Joel Allison inspired the start of Faith in Action Initiatives in 2010 to maximize Baylor Scott & White ’ s impact locally and worldwide . Since then , it has bettered thousands of lives .
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