Resilience Healthcare and Concordia University Chicago announced an exciting partnership that will bring new education opportunities for current and future nurses and help address nursing shortages in Chicago’s West and North Sides.
Kicking off shortly, the partnership will work with Concordia University Chicago’s newly launched nursing program to provide training at Resilience Healthcare’s West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial Hospital. Concordia-Chicago’s nursing faculty and facilities will also provide ongoing professional development for current Resilience nurses.
The university has a long history of affiliating with local healthcare providers as part of its nursing education programs, which date back to 1982. The connection with Resilience serves as a recommitment by the Concordia-Chicago to both students and residents in the surrounding communities.
Concordia University Chicago’s BSN degree will prepare nurses to serve on the front lines and to excel in a variety of healthcare settings. Partnering with community medical institutions rounds out the student learning experience in the real world, and Concordia-Chicago is excited to expand their presence in the communities surrounding West Suburban and Weiss Memorial hospitals.
“This collaboration expands nursing education in our community and is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to practice the art and science of nursing in a community hospital setting,” said Resilience Healthcare’s owner and Group CEO Dr. Manoj Prasad. “Moreover, it opens up meaningful career opportunities for the young men and women living in medically underserved communities,” he added.
Dr. Eli Hestermann, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Concordia University Chicago, agrees, “The health of our community is threatened by the ongoing shortage of nurses. At the same time, college nursing programs have difficulty finding places for their students to gain practical clinical training. Partnerships like this are vital to closing both of these gaps and improving health and educational outcomes for the people we serve.”
Resilience and Concordia-Chicago are also exploring additional opportunities to form clinical-academic partnerships to benefit the people of the greater Chicago area.