MHA Students Endow Scholarship in Professor’s Name

Each year, students graduating from the Master of Health Administration program in the VCU School of Allied Health present a gift to the program.

This year’s graduates raised more money than any class before them, building an endowment of more than $26,000 to create the Kenneth R. White Scholarship in honor of a faculty member.

White, who holds a Ph.D. and is a registered nurse, is the Sentara Healthcare Professor in the VCU Department of Health Administration and has taught at VCU since 1993.

“Each class is unique, but with this one there was a special connection from the beginning,” he said. “They are diverse in their interests but cohesive, and this has to do with leadership. They are all leaders.”

Carolyn Watts, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Health Administration, said the gift achieves three important goals: highlighting the spirit and initiative of the students, providing funding for future students for years to come and honoring a faculty member.

“The Ken White Scholarship effort demonstrates our students’ thoughtfulness, caring and generosity,” said Cecil B. Drain, Ph.D., dean and professor, School of Allied Health Professions. “The MHA Class of 2013, under the leadership of John Neidenback and Scott Rusz, has been outstanding in bringing together so many people to honor Dr. White, while at the same time, creating a much needed scholarship that will provide financial assistance for students. This is quite an honor for Dr. White, the School of Allied Health Professions and VCU.”

White is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the author of “The Well-Managed Healthcare Organization” (with John Griffith), “Reaching Excellence in Healthcare Management” (with John Griffith) – a book for which he won the James A. Hamilton Book of the Year award – and numerous book chapters.

“When I hear about chaos in health care, I’m not worried when I see students like all of you who know the patient is at the center of what we do,” he told the MHA Class of 2013 at the gift presentation. “I encourage you to always do what is best for the patients, bedside to boardroom.”

 

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