Simpson University and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta Create Partnership

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2007

REDDING, Calif. - Simpson University and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta announced a strategic alliance based on a shared vision for improving the quality of life to north state residents. The new partnership will benefit both organizations by providing opportunities such as internship placement for Simpson students, preferred student status for Mercy Mt. Shasta employees at Simpson University, and the sharing of resources and facilities among others.

The strategic alliance, which states that both parties share similar mission statements, was signed by Simpson University president, Dr. Larry J. McKinney, and Mercy Mt. Shasta Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Gersdorf. The partnership is effective through December 31, 2010

After having recently formed partnerships with three hospitals in Shasta and Tehama County, this is the first strategic alliance for Simpson University in Siskiyou County.

"We believe this alliance with Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta will provide opportunity and better service to residents of the north state," said Dr. McKinney. "We are pleased that the cooperative relationships are growing beyond the immediate Redding community."

Mercy Mt. Shasta Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Gersdorf, states, "This is another opportunity where we can be of service to our community, and we are pleased to participate in this new alliance."

The Simpson/Mercy Mt. Shasta partnership also includes support of Simpson curriculum in the areas of health science, particularly in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which Simpson launched this January and will begin a second cohort May 8.

Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta is a Catholic Healthcare West not-for-profit medical facility. Recognized as a national leader in providing "five-star" health care services, Mercy Mt. Shasta combines sophisticated medical technology with a highly skilled and caring staff to meet the medical, spiritual and emotional needs of its patients.  

Simpson University is a Christian liberal arts university offering undergraduate, graduate and teaching credential programs. Simpson's academic programs include ASPIRE, an accelerated degree-completion program allowing busy adults to complete their bachelor's degree in 16 months. Simpson University recently launched four-year degrees in nursing, biology, and outdoor leadership, and a pre-nursing certificate, as part of a curriculum expansion focused on serving the needs of the health care industry in the north state.

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Contact: Wendy Rose
wrose@simpsonuniversity.edu
(530) 226-4126