First A Nurse: No Matter Where, No Matter What | Page 25

First Endowed Chair for BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EDUCATION The donation is the second largest gift ever given to the College of Nursing. The Endowed Chair for Behavioral Mental Health Nursing Education will support the development of nursing competencies in this priority area related to evidence-based care and improved patient outcomes among undergraduate and graduate students, as well as McLaren nursing staff. The goal: more and better-trained nurses in this vital area of healthcare. Valued Partner and Donor: “As a hospital provider, we could sit back and continue to lament the lack of mental health providers,” said Tom Mee, RN, BSN, MBA, President and CEO at McLaren Greater Lansing. “Or we could choose to take action to address it. We chose the latter. This endowment is a commitment to collectively work together to break down the single greatest barrier to mental healthcare services—access to providers.” Endowed chair and professorship positions provide top scholars with stable support to actively engage in leading-edge work. The support from an endowment provides a dependable, perpetual source of funding to sustain the position, as well as the ability to conduct research and scholarship as new opportunities arise. “The individual who fills this position will bridge MSU faculty and students with the McLaren Greater Lansing nursing team by improving mental health in the community,” said Dean Randolph Rasch. “Together, we will work on the frontlines with patients, addressing the ongoing education needs of nurses, developing their behavioral health nursing skills and building a healthier community.” The College of Nursing is committed to creating a healthier tomorrow. To have a lasting impact through your philanthropic gift to the College, contact Eric L. Sturdy, Jr. [email protected] or [phone]. Michigan has a serious shortage of mental health professionals to address the behavioral health needs of our families, friends, and neighbors. Recognizing this problem, McLaren Greater Lansing made a $1.5 million gift to Michigan State University to establish the College of Nursing’s first endowed chair position. 25