Marshfield Clinic and UW-Stevens Point Announce Partnership
Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 -- 9:08 AM
(WDLB) -Siting a need for health care workers in north-central Wisconsin, Marshfield Clinic and UW-Stevens Point on Monday announced a partnership aimed at expanding health-related majors and clinic training programs in the region.The partnership is focused on U-W-S-P's academic programs and the Clinic's training opportunities. During the Monday afternoon announcement at the Laird Center for Research and Education in Marshfield, Clinic Health System C-E-O Dr. Susan Turney said a key goal of the partnership is attracting students and retaining them as future employees in north-central Wisconsin.
"And we see a trend of many of our young people, as they become educated and trained in our workforce, moving out of our area. So this puts a lot of strain on our local economy; there's no question about it. And, particularly, in education and health care, but in technology as well. We need the best and brightest to stay in our communities and to make them vibrant members of our communities. And we do have barriers that don't exists in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and other cities. But we also have opportunity that don't exists in Madison, Milwaukee or Chicago and we need to remember that every day."
Rebecca Sommer is the head of U-W-S-P's School of Health Care Professions, and said key components of the partnership include the expansion of existing degree programs, plus the creation of new health-related majors, minors and certificates, a new master's degree in health administration, a doctorate in physical therapy, and the expansion of existing bachelor's degree programs in areas like nursing, dietetics and clinical lab science. Sommer said the long-term agreement also creates the Marshfield Clinic Scholars program, which will identify top-performing students in health-related fields at UW-Stevens Point who have an interest in staying in the region after graduation. The program will award 20 students each year tuition assistance, and will connect them to practitioners for training and mentorship opportunities not available before.
"Together we have shared goals that are going to increase the number of students who are pursuing healthcare professions in the geographical region. We're going to give those students a world class education at world class facilities. And then we're going to connect those students to jobs that are here. Here in central and northern Wisconsin."
Sommer said the college will also start a Health Care Careers Camp for high school students each summer starting next year.
"We're going to connect those high school students to our college age scholars. So, often times, high school students learn best from some a little younger. They learn best often from students that are just a few years ahead of them in their career and education trajectory. So, we're going to link those students together. And then we're also going to help those high school students see the important and the benefits of staying in local communities to practice."
An advisory board of health care and education professionals will provide advice and direction to U-W-S-P as it administers these new programs, not only to students on the Point campus, but also to those on the new U-W-S-P Marshfield and Wausau branch campuses as well.
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