Beaufort Memorial Receives Truist Grant for Workforce Development
May 28, 2024
Beaufort Memorial received a $40,000 grant from Truist Foundation in May to expand its strategic workforce development initiatives and address the shortage of health care professionals in the local area.
South Carolina is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Beaufort County is not immune to the workforce issue. To address the challenge, BMH leadership launched the People Achieving Their Highest (PATH) program in June 2022, which provides career pathway development opportunities for frontline employees, implemented by Beaufort Memorial education staff.
The Truist grant — along with funding and support from University of South Carolina at Beaufort, Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort and other private donors — will help to fund an expansion of the PATH program and the construction of a new education center on the BMH campus.
“We are very thankful to have Truist Foundation’s support,” said Kim Yawn, Beaufort Memorial associate vice president and chief development officer. “PATH has been a huge success in providing BMH employees a unique opportunity for career growth in the health care field. And growing the program’s capacity will be essential as we meet the accelerating demand for health care services in our community.”
Through PATH, employees can enroll in six- to 24-week training programs to become a certified medial assistant, certified nursing assistant, electrocardiogram technician, patient care technician or medical coder.
BMH is working with the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) to open an education center on its main campus in Beaufort. Along with housing PATH’s current programs, the center will be an additional educational site for USCB's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The new resources will allow USCB to potentially double the number of nursing students accepted into the program.
Beaufort County has one of the most acute shortages of nurses in the state of South Carolina, according to Dr. Kimberly Dudas, associate professor of Nursing at USCB.
“The Truist Foundation is proud to support the workforce development initiatives of the Beaufort Memorial Foundation,” said Mark Lattanzio, coastal market president at Truist. “Expanding their training center to grow their PATH program and support the BMH accelerated nursing partnership with USCB will both provide opportunities for advancement of their existing workforce and meet the critical healthcare needs of the Lowcountry. Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and the work of the Beaufort Memorial Foundation aligns perfectly with Truist community building focus.”
Community members interested in learning how they might join the team at Beaufort Memorial and grow their career through the PATH Program are encouraged to visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Careers.