The newly launched program will create academic pathways and address the nursing shortage.

By Meg Ryan

When Kristen Walsh, ’24, began her college search, she was looking for a university where she could come into her own. “I chose La Salle because I was looking for a close-knit family,” she said.

The West Chester, Pa., native is a triplet. Creating her own identity, both personally and professionally, was top priority. She said her experience at La Salle has done that and more. The nursing major is president of the University’s Student Nursing Association of Pennsylvania chapter (SNAP) and a part of the Ambassador program.

In the classroom, La Salle’s nursing program has given Walsh a foundation to enter the healthcare field, whether she works bedside or as a healthcare educator. La Salle faculty and clinical
instructors, she said, are instrumental in her success. “The School of Nursing and Health Sciences has supported me and my endeavors. The one thing that really sets La Salle apart is
its professors,” she said.

La Salle’s commitment to a high-quality education has not wavered in its 160-year history. As the world and its industries change, the University aims to meet those shifts by offering students innovative programs.

In January, La Salle announced its partnership with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Howley Foundation to invest in the future of nursing by creating accessible pathways toward an undergraduate nursing degree. Now accepting applications, the ASPIRE Program is an enrichment program designed for local upper-level high school students interested in nursing careers. As ASPIRE Scholars, students will receive insight into the nursing profession and healthcare teams, and participate in a variety of interactive experiences within the hospital. The ASPIRE Program assists students nearing high school graduation in applying to La Salle to pursue their undergraduate nursing degree from a program consistently ranked among the nation’s best. While at La Salle, students continue their affiliation with Penn Medicine and can transition into part-time employment roles as they complete their nursing credits.

“Embracing the evolving higher education landscape and charting a new path for La Salle requires us to be nimble and adopt a forward-thinking perspective about La Salle’s role in the marketplace,” said University President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. “Innovation, collaboration, and integration in a global environment will be our compass, as we evaluate and develop academic programs and partnerships that consider the professional success and outcomes of our students and the preservation of our historic teaching and learning tradition.”

The ASPIRE program aims to address the nationwide nursing shortage while increasing diversity in health care and offering opportunities for economic mobility. It follows La Salle’s tradition of developing students and graduates who are real-world ready in their chosen fields.

“As we know, a La Salle degree is one with impact,” President Allen said. “That’s why La Salle is recognized nationally for value, return on investment, and academic rigor. We will always prioritize the delivery of a high-quality education that aligns with current and future demands of the economy, workforce, and labor market, while identifying opportunities for academic innovation.”

Launched in early 2023, the program will admit up to 25 new Philadelphia high school juniors each year, providing a pathway into the nursing field through La Salle nursing education and beginning with a high school enrichment program which consists primarily of lecture-type lessons and hands-on learning.

Following high school graduation and completing the enrichment program, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) at La Salle. While at La Salle, students will be employed by HUP within the Department of Nursing to further practice their skills and gain experience. The ASPIRE program’s selection criteria prioritizes first-generation college students and those from other marginalized communities whose opportunities to attend college may be limited.

“Our nursing program is honored to partner with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Howley Foundation to bring nursing education to students through the ASPIRE Program,” said School of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Kathleen Czekanski, Ph.D., R.N. “Students selected as ASPIRE Scholars will learn and apply their clinical and critical thinking skills under the auspices of an institution internationally recognized for its clinical and research excellence. As a Magnet® recognized organization, HUP brings a history of supporting the highest standards of nursing practice. La Salle is proud to join with our partners at HUP to prepare ASPIRE Scholars for future careers as registered nurses in today’s complex healthcare environment.”

All students selected for ASPIRE will have full tuition remission. Supported by the Howley Foundation’s commitment of up to $7.5 million, as well as support from Penn Medicine, students will receive funding on top of their La Salle University scholarships and federal grants to assure they have no tuition costs. Students must meet academic criteria to remain in the program. Scholars
also receive a $500 stipend after successful completion of the high school portion of the enrichment program.

The collaboration between La Salle and HUP came naturally when Penn Medicine saw the success of La Salle’s nursing graduates, Czekanski said. The medical system also valued the high degree of support La Salle offers students—from first year advising through to nursing-specific mentoring, advising, and career coaching.

Walsh, the current La Salle undergraduate nursing student, thinks the ASPIRE program will be great for incoming La Salle nursing students.

“I know that giving future Explorers experience in the healthcare industry prior to their time at La Salle will be monumentally valuable for these ASPIRE students,” Walsh said. “The early exposure to nursing topics will help build their knowledge and experience. Plus, with the rigorous La Salle nursing program behind them, these students are set up for success.”

From Olney Avenue to the Ivy League

Melanie Bates, ’22, recently graduated from La Salle’s School of Arts and Sciences with degrees in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. This May, she received a master’s degree in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania through La Salle’s accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s program—an academic partnership with Penn Engineering.

Bates is the first graduate from this unique program, which launched in December 2020.

The goal of the program is to prepare students for careers across the science spectrum: natural science, physical science, life science, engineering, and design thinking. It also puts students on
an accelerated track with completion of both degrees in five years.

Three of her courses, while she was still at La Salle, were taken at Penn and counted toward both programs. After finishing her undergraduate requirements at La Salle, Bates continued taking courses, on a full-time basis, in Fall 2022. She studied developmental tissue engineering, focused on embryonic development and stem cell research. Another of her courses? Rehab engineering and design, within which she and classmates studied ways to design devices to support individuals who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (or TBIs), neurodiversity, and limb amputation.

“I never envisioned taking this path and now, here I am,” said Bates, a native of Morrisville, Pa. “It’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to see where I go next.”

Forming a perfect union

The School of Arts and Sciences is also helping educators begin their journey toward a master’s degree in partnership with the Philadelphia-based National Constitution Center.

Teachers from across the U.S. can attend the National Constitution Center’s Civil Discourse Summer Institute and receive three credits toward a master’s degree in education at La Salle. The collaboration began in the summer of 2022 and helps educators gain knowledge on bringing civil dialogue and constitutional topics into the classroom through a weeklong institute at the Center with workshops and a final project.

“We are so excited to have this partnership with the National Constitution Center,” said La Salle’s Kimberly Lewinski, Ph.D., graduate program director and associate professor of education. “It allows us to offer a unique opportunity for students to learn about civil discourse in an authentic setting. We are thrilled to provide college credits for the course and a direct path into our master’s degree program. We look forward to future course collaborations.”

The business of healthcare

Already recognized nationally for exceptional career-placement outcomes, the AACSB-accredited MBA program at La Salle’s School of Business is growing. Beginning Fall 2023, students can enroll in a new specialization: Health Systems Management.

“Increasingly, we are seeing healthcare networks and leading hospitals transitioning the oversight and strategic leadership of their complex business functions to those who possess a combination of business acumen and academic training,” said Joseph Ugras, Ph.D., professor of accounting and interim dean of La Salle’s School of Business. “The Health Systems Management specialization of the La Salle MBA program will guide students on their path toward rewarding careers and leadership roles in the evolving and fast-paced healthcare industry.”

The Health Systems Management specialization has three new state-of-the-art courses in the La Salle MBA program. Students will take Health Systems Management, Financing Health Systems, and Healthcare Analytics along with the other required courses to earn the MBA degree. These courses will develop students as experts and thought leaders in healthcare systems logistics, information systems, finance and insurance, and optimization and efficiency.