UK St. Claire graduates most students ever from work-study program

MOREHEAD, Ky.– UK St. Claire is proud to announce the largest graduating class to date for its Student Extern and Educational Funding Programs, which have expanded past nursing to include multiple health care disciplines. Earlier this month 41 new graduates celebrated their bright future in health care at a commencement luncheon, including ¬28 students beginning their careers and 13 nurses who went back to school to earn higher degrees.

“These programs integrate direct scholarships for students and innovative relationships with educational partners in our region to provide economic opportunity for our neighbors while building future workforce to provide high-level care for our patients,” said Donald Lloyd II, UK St. Claire President/CEO. ‘This is workforce development at its finest, and we look forward to graduating our next class of professionals in May.”

The Student Extern Program, initially focused on nursing, now welcomes students pursuing careers in respiratory therapy, medical laboratory technology, certified medical assisting (CMA), registered nursing (RN), licensed practical nursing (LPN), surgical technology, imaging sciences and more. Participants benefit from hands-on clinical experience, mentorship, tuition assistance, and guaranteed employment upon graduation, making the program an invaluable stepping stone into the health care workforce. Most of this year’s graduates were employed at UK St. Claire as patient care associates or student externs while in school.

“Expanding our extern program to encompass all health care fields allows us to invest in a broader range of future professionals,” said Kayla Harrison, Director of Talent Management at UK St. Claire. “This year’s cohort reflects our commitment to building a diverse and skilled pipeline to best serve our patients while providing students with the education, experience and support they need to thrive.”

The cohort includes:

- 5 CMAs from Maysville Community and Technical College

- 1 CMA from US Career Institute

- 3 Respiratory Therapists from Maysville Community and Technical College

- 1 Radiologic Technologist from Collins Career Technical Center

- 8 LPNs from Maysville Community and Technical College

- 1 LPN from Medical Career & Technical College

- 1 Surgical Technologist from Ashland Community and Technical College

- 2 RNs from Galen College of Nursing

- 7 RNs from Morehead State University

By taking part in the program, students received access to rotations across primary care, specialty practices and urgent care settings. They also benefit from tuition assistance, flexible scheduling to prioritize education, guaranteed employment upon graduation with competitive sign-on and graduation bonuses, as well as mentorship and professional development opportunities.

The program has not only strengthened UK St. Claire’s workforce but has also transformed participants’ lives. Recent graduate Carla Haight said the Nurse Extern Program allowed her to gain valuable experience while she was still in nursing school. “I grew confidence in myself and was able to see many different areas of the hospital while learning and performing many skills. This program helped me determine my love for the ICU and has helped me transition from a nursing student to a new grad nurse with a good amount of experience already under my belt!”

In addition to supporting students entering health care careers, the program encourages further education. This semester alone, three LPNs completed RN bridge programs, two nurses earned Master’s degrees, and eight completed RN-to-BSN bridge programs.

For more information about the UK St. Claire Student Extern and Educational Funding Programs, including application deadlines and eligibility requirements, visit www.st-claire.org/careers.

UK St. Claire includes a growing medical staff of more than 125 physicians and nearly 70 advanced practice professionals representing more than 30 medical specialties. It consists of the hospital, seven primary care locations located within five counties, a multi-specialty medical pavilion, two urgent care centers, a pediatrics clinic, as well as a retail pharmacy, counseling center, medical equipment and supply store, and an outpatient center. Additionally, UK St. Claire provides home health and hospice services in eight counties. UK St. Claire is dedicated to continuing its vision to provide clinical and service excellence in a personalized manner, build a leading medical community that provides a seamless system of care and education, and enhance the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve by promoting physical, social and emotional well-being.