PATH Program graduation, signing ceremony marks new opportunities for employees
From staff reports
Beaufort Memorial Hospital held its sixth graduation and pinning ceremony for more than 20 PATH (People Achieving Their Highest) graduates (including the program’s first two registered nurses) and celebrated the signing of 23 employees who will enter the program.
The event also featured the announcement of the new Marmo Family Nursing Scholarship.
Special guests Trisha and Chris Marmo congratulated the graduates and, alongside BMH Foundation Associate Vice President and Chief Development Officer Kimberly Yawn, announced the establishment of the new scholarship, which will offer direct incentives for area residents pursuing a career in nursing.
Created in partnership with the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, the scholarship is designed to offer nursing students in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties “a hand up rather than a handout,” according to Trisha Marmo. The fund will award five nursing school scholarships annually specifically for those pursuing their RN degree, with the first recipients to be chosen this summer. Recipients are eligible for up to $4k per semester provided they are enrolled with good standing in their nursing program.
“South Carolina already has too few nurses and is projected to have as many as 10,000 nursing vacancies by the end of the decade,” said Yawn. “And it’s only going to get worse unless we find a way to attract more qualified people to the profession. This gift is going to have a major positive impact on both the nursing students who receive the scholarships and the residents who will one day receive their care.”
Paying it forward
A native of south Florida, Trisha worked her way through nursing school while carrying multiple jobs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Faced with an uncertain future and a lack of money for tuition, she was preparing to leave the nursing program before graduation. When she arrived at a meeting with her Dean of Nursing to resign from the program, she was met with a check – a gift! – that would cover her expenses and allow her to graduate with honors from the University of Florida’s College of Nursing in 1992 (she repaid the “gift” six months after starting her first job).
Chris was a successful pharmaceutical entrepreneur for 30 years while Trish, in addition to raising their children, had careers in nursing and as a board-certified health and wellness coach. The two retired to Bluffton in 2021. Together, they raised five children, are grandparents to six grandchildren, and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.
“It sounds cliché,” she said. “But Chris and I had a successful run, and we’re ready to give back. Education was the ticket out of poverty for us both. And we hope with this fund to be an example to others of all that can be accomplished through education. We also hope our scholarship recipients will pay it forward themselves one day by providing exceptional health care to the community.”
PATH program graduation
Among those being honored at Wednesday’s ceremony are Adam Flores and Olivia Pace, graduated from USCB’s nursing program on Friday, April 26, and have accepted offers to work at the hospital on the third floor pediatrics unit and the emergency department, respectively.
In addition to Flores and Pace, the ceremony celebrated the eight most recent PATH program graduates, as well as six who were pinned as certified Patient Care Technicians and six as certified Clinical Medical Assistants.
Since 2022, Beaufort Memorial has graduated or certified more than 55 employees through its innovative workforce development program, allowing employees to advance their careers in the organization. PATH Programs include a variety of clinical pathways, and last November graduated its first class of certified medical coders.
“We are extremely proud of our employee graduates and the future their hard work affords them,” said BMH President and CEO Russell Baxley, MHA. “They are shining examples of our mission and vision, and our shared commitment to helping our employees achieve their goals.”
The Beaufort Memorial PATH Program has been showcased by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) as an innovative example of workforce development. The program includes scholarships, clinical training, traditional education, and non-traditional financial assistance to encourage and incentivize individuals to advance their careers and support a better healthcare network. To learn more about the PATH Program visit BeaufortMemorial.org/PATH.
Marmo Family Nursing Scholarship
- Five awards annually.
- Open to Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton County residents who have been accepted into an accredited nursing program.
- Up to $4000 per semester, renewable as long as student is in good standing.
- Applications are now open with first awards announced this summer.
- Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/MarmoScholarship.
Applications for the Marmo Family Nursing Scholarship are now open and will be accepted from April through June each year. Awardees will be notified in July. To learn more about or apply for the scholarship visit BeaufortMemorial.org/MarmoScholarship.
