VCU Department of Health Administration seeks $10,000 to revitalize scholarship fund

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Health Administration needs $10,000 in contributions to revitalize the Sherry Kohlenberg Fund and convert it into an endowed scholarship that would still bear the name of the former graduate who died of breast cancer in 1993 at the age of 37.

During the last year, the Department received $6,000 in donations from Sherry's family towards the revitalization of the scholarship, previously established in 1993. The department is seeking to raise at least an additional $4,000 in contributions so that the Sherry Kohlenberg Scholarship for Excellence in Risk Management may continue in perpetuity.

Kohlenberg, a 1986 alumna of the master of health administration program, was one of the first graduates to concentrate her health care career in the field of risk management and patient safety, and was the first Risk Manager for the VCU Medical Center. She also reported directly to the hospital's chief executive officer while working as coordinator during the move to North Hospital and the installation of the first MRI machines.

Stephen S. Mick, Ph.D., Arthur Graham Glasgow professor and chairman of VCU's Department of Health Administration, is encouraging Kohlenberg's classmates, colleagues, friends and fellow alumni to contribute to this worthwhile effort.

"Over the past decade, the scholarship funds in Sherry's name were well spent and assisted many of our graduate students, but those original contributions are nearly depleted," Mick said. "Reestablishing the Kohlenberg fund as an endowed scholarship will maintain financial support for additional MHA and MSHA graduate students interested in risk management, ultimately promoting patient safety and improving our health care delivery system."

Past recipients of the Kohlenberg award include:

• Katie Reagan McCullough (MHA '94), quality improvement administrator, Virginia Health Quality Center, Richmond;
• Katina Goodwyn (MHA '97), product and marketing manager, disease management, Health Management Corporation, Richmond;
• Kathleen Cooperman (MSH '00), resources/clinical operation, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif.;
• John Phillips (MHA '01), assistant administrator LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., Georgetown Community Hospital, Georgetown, Ky.;
• Sally Russell Long (MSHA '02), director, risk management, University of Louisville Hospitals, Louisville, Ky.; and
• Catherine Marlow (MHA '02), coordinator, regulatory affairs department, Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville.

Contributions to the fund are tax deductible. Gifts should be payable to MCVF/HAD (Medical College of Virginia Foundation/Department of Health Administration), specifically noting in the check's memo section that the donation is for the Sherry Kohlenberg Scholarship. Contributions should be mailed to:

Amy M. E. Edwards, Director of External Relations
Department of Health Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 980203
Richmond, VA 23298-0203

For more information about the scholarship program or the Department of Health Administration, please contact Amy Edwards at (804) 828-8662 or via e-mail at anedwards@vcu.edu.