The Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center receives $500,500 grant to fund research and education initiatives
February 8, 2023Yuma, AZ (February 8, 2023) – The Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center recently received a $500,500 grant from the Flinn Foundation to enhance research capacity at Yuma Regional Medical Center and build a pathway for students at Arizona Western College to seek health-system relevant credentialing in the field.
Trudie F. Milner, Ph.D., COO, YRMC, and Reetika Dhawan, VP for Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education, AWC, will lead this project. Both Dr. Milner and Ms. Dhawan are known to the Flinn Foundation. Dr. Milner collaborates on a Flinn-funded study of the impact of perchlorate contamination on the health of the population in the Yuma region, and Ms. Dhawan is a 2022 Flinn Brown Fellow.
"We are pleased to receive this grant award and put it towards the meaningful work of Yuma Regional Medical Center,” said Dr. Robert Trenschel, YRMC President and CEO. "This investment will strengthen Yuma Regional Medical Center's model of care today and far into the future."
Dr. Daniel Corr, President of Arizona Western College, highlighted the pressing need for experienced healthcare professionals, with the current trends pointing to an acute shortage in this sector. “In response, under Reetika Dhawan's leadership, we are resolute in equipping our community through comprehensive training and skills development vital for meeting future healthcare job demands.”
The grant will support the development and delivery of seven foundational educational modules across a breadth of topics essential for increasing the staff's understanding of organizational and scientific aspects of applied clinical research. "In parallel to the effort at YRMC, a new career pathway, with a focus on healthcare data management and data analytics, will be initiated at AWC, focused on developing a pipeline of trained personnel to fill current gaps and meet the growing demand within clinical research and other healthcare settings," said Dhawan.
The Flinn Foundation grant will also provide seed funding to initiate new research programs and dollars to support an annual symposium for sharing cutting-edge findings.
This investment will accelerate education and training opportunities and enhance institutional research at Yuma Regional Medical Center. The grant also aligns with the Flinn Foundation’s mission of improving the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations through the advancement of bioscience and the provision of education to high-achieving students.
“Yuma Regional Medical Center is grateful for the $500,500 gift and is committed to growing our clinical research program,” said Dr. Milner. “We know this vital work is essential to expanding treatment options for potentially life-saving treatments for local patients and increasing overall access to care in our community.”
The Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center is a fully qualified 501(c) (3) organization, which solicits a broad range of philanthropic support to advance the mission of Yuma Regional Medical Center. Charitable contributions to the Foundation help to enhance patient care, improve technologies, aid our healthcare providers with the tools to provide exceptional healthcare and support significant initiatives and collaborations that address the most critical health needs in Yuma County.
Yuma Regional Medical Center is a 406-bed, not-for-profit hospital dedicated to providing outstanding medical care to the residents of Yuma and the surrounding communities in southwestern Arizona. The YRMC team includes more than 2,000 employees, over 365 medical providers and hundreds of volunteers who work closely together to create a welcoming, caring, and compassionate environment for patients and their families.
Arizona Western College
Located in the sunny, southwest corner of the state, Arizona Western College supports Yuma and La Paz communities by offering over 170 degrees and certificates in a wide range of academic and career and technical programs as well as non-credit courses in professional development, customized training, and personal enrichment areas. With 12 different locations and a service area that spans 10,000 square miles, AWC is also exceptionally unique in that it hosts all three state universities on its main campus for face-to-face classes. These partnerships provide seamless transfer pathways to baccalaureate degrees and beyond in a variety of high-demand programs. AWC is committed to doubling the rate of baccalaureate degrees earned in Yuma and La Paz counties by 2035 and is dedicated to its mission of transforming lives through education and partnerships to create thriving communities.
Media Contact: Matt Nilsen
801-599-7146