Hearst Foundations Grant Supports KGI School of Community Medicine

The Hearst Foundations have awarded a grant of $250,000 to Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in support of crucial steps in the current phase of the KGI School of Community Medicine planning and development.

“We are thrilled to have the endorsement of one of the state’s most respected members of the philanthropic community,” KGI President Sheldon Schuster said. “This grant builds on the momentum provided by the transformational gift KGI received in July 2018 to initiate the KGI School of Community Medicine’s first phase.

“The support of the Hearst Foundations recognizes the vision of the KGI School of Community Medicine and reaffirms the school’s important role in the future healthcare landscape of Southern California.”

In May, the KGI Board of Trustees approved the proposal to develop the KGI School of Community Medicine. The board based its decision on a feasibility study by strategic consultant Tripp Umbach, which concluded that a medical school at KGI would help meet the demand for more primary care physicians in Southern California.

Medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). KGI is following the steps to apply for LCME accreditation status. The Hearst Foundations grant will fund the hiring of a consultant to assist in designing the business plan and managing the LCME accreditation process, while also aiding in the completion of the founding dean search process.

For more information about the KGI School of Community Medicine, the accreditation process, and the search for a founding dean, visit kgi.edu/socm.

About the Hearst Foundations

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health, and social services. The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives.

The Hearst Foundation, Inc. was founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1945. In 1948, Hearst established the California Charities Foundations, later renamed The William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Both Foundations are guided by the same charitable mission, which reflects the philanthropic interests of their founder. Since inception, the Foundations have awarded more than 20,000 grants totaling over $1.1 billion.

About KGI

KGI was founded in 1997 as the first higher education institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to education and research related to the applied life sciences. KGI offers innovative postgraduate degrees and certificates that integrate life and health sciences, business, pharmacy, and genetics, with a focus on industry projects, hands-on industry experiences, and team collaborations.

A member of The Claremont Colleges, KGI employs an entrepreneurial approach and industry connections that provide pathways for students to become leaders in healthcare and the applied life sciences. KGI consists of three schools: Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the Minerva Schools at KGI.