Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie receives $500,000 donation from local family

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie recently received a $500,000 donation from a local Waxahachie family to benefit the hospital's Advancing Nursing Excellence program. The donation was made possible through the generosity of Wanda Williams Chiles in memory of her late husband W. Brown Chiles, Jr.

The Advancing Nursing Excellence Program is a multi-pronged approach to building highly-educated nursing staff and respected nursing leadership at Baylor. This contribution will be used to award scholarships to Baylor Waxahachie nurses and non-nursing employees who wish to pursue higher education in the field of nursing.

"Generous gifts like these not only allow Baylor Waxahachie to recruit and retain highly educated nurses, but also ensure our patients continue to receive the quality care we are so proud to offer," says Jay Fox, president, Baylor Waxahachie. "The ability to provide our staff access to opportunities to pursue advanced degrees is a testament to this commitment. We are grateful to the Chiles family and their support as we continue to care for the growing communities of Ellis County and the surrounding areas."

John Chiles, the brother of W. Brown Chiles, Jr. helped facilitate the gift. Both grew up in Waxahachie, and the Chiles family has a long-standing history of supporting the community. Wanda Williams Chiles, a current resident of Waxahachie, and her late husband have supported Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie since 2001. This recent gift is a reflection of the family's passion for nursing and the community.

Baylor Waxahachie is committed to maintaining quality nursing care, which has been the standard of Baylor Health Care System since its first hospital opened in 1903. Research shows that having the right number of highly educated registered nurses on the full-time staff leads to lower mortality rates and better overall patient outcomes.

Like many hospitals, Baylor Health Care System is in need of registered nurses. In the state of Texas, 10% of registered nursing positions are unfilled. The Advancing Nursing Program is just one of many initiatives Baylor is taking to meet this widespread demand for nursing professionals.

"Many of our employees dream of pursuing higher education, but cannot leave full-time employment to attend college," says Cindy Murray, chief nursing officer, Baylor Waxahachie. "This donation to the nursing scholarship program will give Baylor Waxahachie employees a chance to fulfill that dream while still working part-time, an opportunity which would have otherwise been unattainable."

Employees must apply for a sponsorship and are chosen through a competitive selection process. Scholarships will be awarded based on the likelihood of success in an academic program, proven track record as an employee in good standing, and evidence of need. The first nurse scholar to benefit from this grant will be named soon.

Source: Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie