Southeast Georgia Health System Pledges $1 Million to Establish the First Distinguished Chair
November 25, 2008
The College of Coastal Georgia Foundation is the fortunate recipient of a pledge for one million dollars from the Southeast Georgia Health System. This pledge establishes an endowment to create the College's first named, Distinguished Chair. The contribution will allow the College to request that the Board of Regents establish the Southeast Georgia Health System Distinguished Chair of Nursing and Health Sciences. Southeast Georgia Health System has been a long-time supporter of the College and is the key regional partner in meeting the health care needs of the Coastal Georgia Community. The announcement was made at a College and community Thanksgiving gathering held at the lake near the health system campus.
"We are extremely honored by the latest investment that the Hospital Authority, President & CEO, Gary Colberg and the health system family have made in the future of our College and our students", said Dr. Valerie Hepburn, Interim President of College of Coastal Georgia. Gary R. Colberg, FACHE, President and CEO of Southeast Georgia Health System further stated, "Southeast Georgia Health System is committed to clinical and health science excellence. This endowed chair reaffirms the Health System's strong tradition of excellence in the field of nursing as well as our commitment to the future of our community's health care."
Establishing the Southeast Georgia Health System Distinguished Chair for Nursing and Health Sciences will allow the College of Coastal Georgia to attract top students and faculty for the College's Health Sciences program. Jean Mistretta, PhD, RN, has been selected to lead the expanded Nursing and Health Sciences program at the College. Dr. Mistretta comes to the College with more than thirty years of leadership experience in nursing and academic administration. She is the former Dean of Health Sciences at Georgia Perimeter College and has served as Interim Provost of Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody campus and Assistant Vice-President for Health Sciences. She previously chaired the graduate nursing programs at Georgia State University. Once the Health System distinguished chair is established, Dr. Mistretta will fill that position. The endowment also will support the College with resources to provide professional development opportunities for nursing and health sciences faculty.
"We are excited to support the College of Coastal Georgia's Nursing and Health Sciences program," commented Mike Hodges, Chairman of the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority. "As operators of a health care system, our quality nursing program plays an important role in our community's health care and satisfaction. We hope this endowment will support the development of talented and skilled nurses who may someday work for Southeast Georgia Health System."
The College of Coastal Georgia continues its close relationship with the health system to build its expanded Department of Nursing and Health Sciences as well as many other academic programs vital to the college mission and the community. The College is planning for a new Nursing and Health Sciences Building to be located close to the Southeast Georgia Health System campus, and the College anticipates breaking ground on the new facility in late 2009.