Jacksonville, Fla. – The University of North Florida (UNF), the City of Palm Coast and other MedNexus partners today announced new developments and initiatives for UNF MedNexus in Palm Coast including the expansion of educational and developmental programs and scholarship funding to produce high-quality, trained nurses and medical professionals.
UNF President David Szymanski, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and MedNexus partners were onsite to officially announce the UNF MedNexus location within the Town Center of Palm Coast at 145 City Place where construction is currently underway on classrooms, offices and a skills lab for nursing students.
UNF MedNexus in Palm Coast will have an inaugural cohort beginning in fall 2021 and is in the process of appointing a program director from the local area who will be instrumental in establishing and leading the program. Career days for local high school students will be held this summer for those interested in pursuing healthcare education and plans are underway by the UNF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to host a Health and Medical Innovation Challenge for Palm Coast high school students in the fall.
President Szymanski and Mayor Holland also announced that $1 million in scholarships will be given to local students as part of the UNF MedNexus scholarship program. This local investment, in collaboration with the City of Palm Coast, will allow MedNexus Palm Coast scholars to gain exposure to the invaluable experiences and education provided by the UNF Brooks College of Health School of Nursing.
“UNF MedNexus in Palm Coast provides an opportunity for local students to receive the healthcare education, experience and essential skills needed to enter the workforce as trained nursing professionals,” said UNF President David Szymanski. “Our strong local partnerships and engagement with the Palm Coast community will allow UNF MedNexus to lead in advancing our region’s healthcare education.”
In addition, an academic partnership with UNF MedNexus and Daytona State College has been established that will create a ‘2+2 Master’s Pathway’ for Daytona State College students to get a head start in UNF’s nursing graduate programs. The master’s pathway will allow senior students in Daytona State College’s RN-BSN program to enroll in up to nine credit hours in UNF’s nursing master’s program as MedNexus Fellows.
AdventHealth, another committed partner of UNF MedNexus, is also providing many opportunities for MedNexus students to gain real-world experiences with the development of a state-of-the-art simulation lab and incorporating onsite clinical rotations as part of the nursing cohort program.
UNF MedNexus is designed to be the nation’s first comprehensive, university-based medical and healthcare nexus, partnering with local medical centers and connecting healthcare providers with University students, faculty and researchers to addresses the growing healthcare needs in Florida, expand educational programs and enhance medical research. More information can be found at www.unf.edu/unfmednexus.
Photo Caption: UNF President David Szymanski, City of Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland
About University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a nationally ranked university located on a beautiful 1,381-acre campus in Jacksonville surrounded by nature. Serving more than 17,000 students, UNF features six colleges of distinction with innovative programs in high-demand fields. UNF students receive individualized attention from faculty and gain valuable real-world experience engaging with community partners. A top public university, UNF prepares students to make a difference in Florida and around the globe. Learn more at www.unf.edu.
Media Release: Ginny Walthour Director, Media Relations
University of North Florida
