A new arrangement between hospitals and community colleges is expected to bring more workers into the health care industry.
Ozark Technical Community College announced Tuesday the creation of “Win from Within,” a recruiting partnership with Mercy Hospital Springfield that will cover tuition costs for required prerequisite classes.
“Ozark Technical College is committed to removing barriers to education, making this collaboration and program a great fit as it provides aspiring health care workers the opportunity to get an education and start their careers debt-free,” said Aaron Wright, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Making this education more accessible will ultimately help with the growth and stability of this important segment of our workforce.”
Under the terms of the program, qualified students can receive up to $10,000 in financial aid per year for three years to cover tuition, books, registration fees and lab fees. These students must work 16 hours per pay period at a Mercy center and commit to being employed by Mercy after graduation.
Ozark Technical College’s surgical technology, respiratory therapy, radiology, associate degree in nursing and licensed practical nurse programs are all eligible for the program, according to a press release.
Carolyn Lakey, RN, charge nurse on 5B at Mercy Hospital, fills out charts at the nursing station in this 2023 photo. (Photo by Jim Wilson)
Universities have also signed similar agreements to address the nationwide shortage of medical staff.
Ozarks Tech, along with Springfield Public Schools, Missouri State University and CoxHealth, is one of the founding partners of the Healthcare Education Alliance, which provides a career pipeline from high school to bachelor’s and, in some cases, master’s degrees. Evangel University recently joined as an affiliate.
The deadline to apply for the Win from Within program is Oct. 4. For more information, contact 314-207-3469 or 417-447-6900.
Joe Hadsall
Joe Hadsall is an education reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen. Hadsall has covered the Ozarks for more than 20 years for The Joplin Globe, Christian County Headliner News and 417 Magazine. He can be reached at (417) 837-3671 or jhadsall@sgfcitizen.org. More articles by Joe Hadsall
