Cassidy Gallagher, a 2020 IBX Foundation nurse intern from the University of Pennsylvania, who interned at Community Volunteers in Medicine. (Credit: IBX Foundation)
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation has awarded nearly $1.8 million in new grants to bolster the region’s healthcare workforce, with a focus on expanding nursing education and supporting student veterans.
The funding, announced this week, includes scholarships and career development programs at several local colleges and universities. A key portion of the grants will support the IBX Foundation Service Scholars Program, which helps U.S. military veterans pursue nursing degrees through mentorship, financial assistance, and career pathway guidance.
This year, West Chester University and Drexel University joined the growing list of Service Scholars participants, bringing the total number of partner schools to seven. Other institutions in the program include Community College of Philadelphia, Gwynedd Mercy University, Montgomery County Community College, Thomas Jefferson University, and Villanova University.
The Service Scholars initiative builds on educational benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the Yellow Ribbon Program, offering veterans additional resources as they transition to healthcare careers.
“Nursing is a great career choice for veterans,” said Heather Major, executive director of the IBX Foundation. “Expanding the Service Scholars Program helps us meet workforce needs while providing meaningful, high-demand job opportunities for those who have served.”
West Chester University, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, said its participation reflects a broader mission to address workforce shortages across the state. “We are proud to support veterans pursuing nursing careers,” said Dr. Nancy Barker, Chair of WCU’s Nursing Department.
The IBX Foundation partners exclusively with accredited and state-approved nursing programs in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Since launching its nursing initiatives in 2011, the foundation has invested over $23 million to expand and diversify the region’s healthcare workforce.
These efforts are part of the Foundation’s broader mission to improve access to care and strengthen community health outcomes across the Philadelphia area.
