***FIRST MINORITY OWNED SCHOOL OF NURSING IN CALIFORNIA***
Sep 21, 2006
American University of Health Sciences

LONG BEACH – Friday, September 15, 2006, the California Board of Registered Nursing voted unanimous approval of the American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) application to open a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science degree nursing program. The AUHS School of Nursing (SON) will begin the first class in January 2007. They will start with 24 students. The first class will be made up of individuals who have already obtained their pre- requisites for nursing. The program is created to be a fast track program where an individual out of High School can obtain their Bachelors Degree in Nursing within three years. The curriculum is centered on Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Research as the first step towards developing much needed scholarly nurses. These graduates will help to replace an aging population of professionals. Also, it meets the needs of the changing American fabric that has limited success in inclusion of minority populations while adhering to the furtherance of academic excellence. Located in Bixby Knolls, California, AUHS, formerly called the American Institute of Health Sciences began in 1994 and was founded by Kim Dang and the Rev. Gregory A. Johnson. AUHS is the first, Private For Profit, Minority Owned, Minority Serving, Christian Based, School of Nursing at the Bachelors Level in the history of California. This approval culminates 6 years of effort to obtain approval for the unique program. It is hoped with this development that hospitals facilities, health insurance companies, managed care companies, governmental funding agencies, private individuals and philanthropists will reach out and work through the University’s non-profit arm,. American Institute of Health Sciences Foundation, a 501(c)3, to assist in the furtherance of this vital goal. The School of Nursing program is being directed by Betty Smith Williams DrPH, RN, FAAN, former Dean of the School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Professor Emerita, California State University Long Beach .and the first Black nursing professor hired in California 1956. In a recent article in Nursing Spectrum, Dr. Williams stated, “We’ve made very little progress in alleviating health disparities related to lifestyles and cultural lifestyle issues,” Williams, president of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) further states that there is limited information about why these disparities exist. She believes that nursing research will find much-needed answers to help close the health gap. This new program aims to address the nursing shortage and is the only three-year nursing program in LA and Orange County. "We are very excited about the 3-year baccalaureate nursing program that will be offered in Long Beach," said Rev. Gregory A. Johnson, COO of AUHS. "But we are most excited about the relationships that we have built with the area health care systems and the opportunity they will now have to partner with us to offer scholarships for our students. Such partnerships will mean so much to have their support of our program and support for the health and welfare of the citizens of Long Beach, LA and Orange County." The first partnership actually occurred outside of California when Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. of Batesville, Indiana, through the passion and devotion of Peter H. Soderberg, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. & Hill-Rom, became the first medical supplier to support the School of Nursing by donating 4 beds valued at more than $90,000.00 Dollars to the Nursing Lab at AUHS. Johnson states they are to be saluted for taking this lead. In his closing remarks to the board, Rev. Johnson thanked the board, its nursing education consultant, its executive officer and most importantly, God, for this much needed and historical achievement. For more information about programs, ways to support the School of Nursing, teaching opportunities or registration information contact Rev. Gregory A. Johnson, COO, American University of Health Sciences, at : 562-988-2278, gjohnson@auhs.edu or visit www.auhs.edu