Sentara Healthcare commits $130 million in financial support for the Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare said Wednesday that the health system will increase its financial support dramatically for Eastern Virginia Medical School, with a commitment of $130 million during the next five years.

Sentara’s annual funding to EVMS will rise from $9 million to $26 million for 2018 through 2023.

“After 46 years working together, the relationship between Sentara and EVMS has never been stronger,” Henry U. “Sandy” Harris, chair of Sentara’s board of directors, said in a statement.  “Together, we are demonstrating the missions of both institutions and keeping the focus on patient care and innovation during this time of change in the health care landscape.”

EVMS said it will use the additional Sentara funds to establish new programs, bolster existing ones and continue advancing the status of the medical school.

“Sentara’s increased support will be transformational for our community,” David Arias, rector of the EVMS board of visitors, said in a statement.

Under a longstanding agreement, Sentara hospitals provide clinical teaching environments for EVMS students and residents, especially at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Sentara funding will support EVMS plans to establish:
·         A masters’ degree program in health-care analytics and delivery science supported by two full-time PhD faculty members to conduct research and performance improvement initiatives in health-care disparities and population health management.
·         A collaborative research fund to support translational research partnerships in biosciences and biotechnology research and development at academic centers in Virginia and advance clinical best practice and outcomes research.
·         $10.5 million in endowments over three years through the EVMS Foundation to support endowed academic and clinical department chairs to support research and development of quaternary programs.