A visit to campus this week by representatives of Medical Facilities of America (MFA) highlighted not only an important fundraising opportunity for Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, but also an ongoing effort to establish vital clinical rotations for students who will enter the new Mary Baldwin University graduate programs in 2014.
MFA Vice President of Rehabilitation Todd Putney and Vice President of Human Resources Ron Selzler met with key Murphy Deming personnel Tuesday on Mary Baldwin’s main campus in Staunton to present President Pamela Fox a gift and to discuss the development of an affiliation agreement. Such agreements with outside providers will give Murphy Deming students much-needed experience working with patients in the clinical setting.
“MFA is investing in the future,” said Linda Seestedt-Stanford, Mary Baldwin vice president of health sciences. “They have outstanding facilities and clinical personnel. We thank them for their support in providing us with these clinical rotations. Their affiliation with the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences will help assure that future PTs and OTs receive optimal educational experiences.”
Based in Roanoke, MFA provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation care in 40 centers throughout Virginia and North Carolina, including several facilities in rural areas.
“Students who train in rural areas tend to stay and practice in rural areas,” Seestedt-Stanford said. “There’s a high likelihood that our future graduates will support clinics like those under the MFA umbrella.”
As construction picks up this spring on the satellite campus in Fishersville, Murphy Deming administrators continue to develop curricula, hire faculty and staff, oversee compliance with accreditation standards, and nurture relationships among area healthcare providers. Meanwhile, Mary Baldwin University fundraisers continue to work toward a two-year, $8 million goal to help secure the launch of the graduate programs in health sciences. Bertie Murphy Deming Smith ’46 pledged the largest donation in Mary Baldwin history — $15 million — in 2011 to jump start construction and program development.
For more information about how to contribute to the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, please contact Tamara Ridenour, interim director of operations and director of development in Mary Baldwin’s Office of Institutional Advancement, at 540-255-5802 or [email protected].