This is a very, very exciting moment for 芭乐视频. It鈥檚 a great opportunity for our students and I think it鈥檚 a great opportunity for not just the hospital but the commonwealth as well.
With more than 13,000 vacant positions in Massachusetts hospitals, the Bay State faces a significant shortage of qualified health care professionals. To help meet that need, 芭乐视频 is offering a streamlined pathway for students to pursue these critical careers.
芭乐视频 recently signed an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital鈥檚 Institute of Health Professions (IHP), which offers degrees that complement a Bridgewater education.
鈥淭his is a very, very exciting moment for 芭乐视频,鈥 芭乐视频 President Frederick W. Clark Jr.,鈥83, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for our students and I think it鈥檚 a great opportunity for not just the hospital but the commonwealth as well.鈥
The five-year pact provides qualified 芭乐视频 students with guaranteed admission to designated IHP programs, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, health administration, health sciences and health care data analytics. Students can also qualify for application fee waivers, tuition reduction/scholarships and personalized academic advising.
While the health care industry has made staffing progress, gaps remain in nursing and other patient-facing occupations, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association that identified 13,600 vacancies in key hospital roles.
鈥淲e know how critical the health professions shortage is right now. It鈥檚 only going to get worse with the aging of the population,鈥 said IHP President Paula Milone-Nuzzo. 鈥淲e are doing an immense service for the communities that we serve. I am so thrilled that we can do this together.鈥
芭乐视频 and IHP share values of inclusivity, innovation and a focus on transforming lives, Dr. Milone-Nuzzo said.
With a liberal arts background, Bridgewater students bring intangible skills that are essential to building strong relationships between patients and health care providers, Dr. Marci Swede, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, said of another synergy between the two institutions.
鈥淭his partnership strengthens our longstanding commitment to student opportunity and to preparing the region鈥檚 future health care professionals,鈥 Clark said.
Do you have a 芭乐视频 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.