Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee announced the reestablishment of the Silver Lamp Scholarship Awards for Continuing Healthcare Education at a luncheon held at The Foundry on September 16. The Silver Lamp Awards, a tradition of the former Baptist and Mercy Health Partners Systems, were given to enhance the skills of dedicated healthcare professionals. Beginning in January 2015, Trinity will annually award approximately 30 scholarships of $2500 each to recipients selected by committees at 13 hospitals in the nine-county region surrounding Knoxville. Hospitals from several systems will participate, including Tennova, Covenant, University of Tennessee Medical Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and Blount Memorial Hospital.

Dena Mashburn, APN, Trinity Foundation Board Member, observed, “In a time of economic challenge for the hospitals, continuing education budgets face the possibility of being reduced. Targeting the Silver Lamp Scholarships to this continuing education need will strengthen the skills of healthcare professionals and thereby improve the overall level of healthcare expertise available in our community.” David Haynes, Chairman of Trinity, added, “The funds that make these awards possible were given through individual gifts, large and small, and event sponsorships. We believe it honors those donors in our community to use these funds to foster continuing healthcare education.”