The Independence Blue Cross Foundation hosted its inaugural From Campus to Care Summit: Partnerships that Positively Impact Health on August 4, bringing together education, healthcare, and policy leaders to discuss solutions to strengthen the transition from nursing education to practice and Pennsylvania’s healthcare safety net.
Held at Independence Blue Cross headquarters in Philadelphia, the summit reflected the IBX Foundation’s 15-year commitment to healthcare access, community health, and workforce development, including more than $100 million in funding to regional health and higher education nonprofits.
“From Campus to Care underscores the power of regional partnership in advancing community health, building collaborative supports for the healthcare workforce and opportunities in nursing education that can serve as models nationwide” said Heather Major, president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
The summit featured discussions on strategies to retain Pennsylvania nurse graduates, create more supportive healthcare workplace environments, and improve outcomes for patients, providers, and communities.
The event also recognized 18 student nurses in the 2026 IBX Foundation Nursing Internship Program, who completed 10-week paid internships in nonprofit healthcare settings and presented community health research conducted during their placements.
An afternoon session on Pennsylvania’s healthcare safety net featured State Representative Bridget M. Kosierowski, a Villanova-educated nurse, and Kimberly Kockler, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Independence Blue Cross, in a discussion on cross-sector solutions.
Through convenings like From Campus to Care, the IBX Foundation will continue to make connections that enable solutions for better health and invites regional leaders to join in turning ideas into action to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
About the Independence Blue Cross Foundation
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is a private, corporate foundation leading initiatives to positively impact health in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Foundation supports programs that improve healthcare access, strengthen the health workforce, and enable solutions for better community health.
