A new partnership is aimed at addressing the ongoing shortage of healthcare workers in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier.
Keuka College and St. James Hospital announced the agreement this week, creating new education and career pathways for hospital employees while expanding hands-on training opportunities for students.
Under the partnership, St. James Hospital employees will be eligible for discounted tuition in Keuka College’s online and hybrid degree programs. That includes options like the RN-to-BS program, designed to help working nurses meet New York’s education requirements, as well as a master’s degree focused on leadership in healthcare.
Hospital leaders say the collaboration is intended to support workforce development and improve long-term patient care by making it easier for employees to advance their education locally.
The agreement also opens the door for Keuka College students to complete Field Period internships and clinical placements at the hospital’s medical campus in Hornell.
Officials say the partnership builds on a shared history between the two institutions, both founded in 1890, and reflects a broader effort to retain talent while addressing growing demand for healthcare professionals in the region.
St. James Hospital, an affiliate of University of Rochester Medical Center, provides emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation services and specialty clinics to communities across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes.
