The Health Foundation of South Florida has announced grants totaling $1 million to fund expanded enrollment, scholarships, and other support services for nursing and health sciences students at a pair of regional public colleges.

Split between Miami Dade College and Broward College, the funding is aimed at attracting minority, first-generation, and low-income students to each college's respective health sciences and nursing programs. Already, Miami Dade College has matched its grant with an additional $500,000 from the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation and will use the funds to expand its recently launched certification program for licensed practical nurses (LPNs). In addition, the college will use the grant to increase the number of students earning two-year associate degrees in nursing and provide scholarships, extra academic prep classes and workshops for students in need.

“We are happy to partner with the Health Foundation of South Florida to serve underserved and underrepresented populations in South Florida,” said Miami Dade College Medical Campus president Bryan Stewart. “This grant will allow us to support students beginning their careers in health programs as well our current nursing students, and it will help us create boot camps for new students.” 

With its grant, Broward College will launch an initiative aimed at assisting health sciences students by hiring two full-time retention specialists who will work to help vulnerable students access the support they need to address personal and economic needs and graduate successfully. The school also plans to leverage the grant to secure an additional $700,000 in support of the initiative. 

“This is a pivotal time when our community needs healthcare workers the most, and it is also a time when our students face the most personal obstacles in completing degrees in health sciences,” said Sara Turpel, dean and nursing administrator at Broward College. “This gift from the Health Foundation of South Florida will positively impact students through increased educational attainment and have a direct impact on the health of the community.” 

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