Shawnee State University partners with Adena Health for nursing program at PACCAR Medical Education Center

Shawnee State University and Adena Health have opened applications for their new nursing program at PACCAR Medical Education Center. The program is offered in partnership between the university and the health system and will begin with its first cohort of 20 students in the Spring 2027 semester, with the first expected graduates finishing the program in 2030.

According to an article on Shawnee State University’s website, Kim Dinsey-Read, Ph.D., MSN, MBA, RN, who serves as the Director of Nursing and Associate Professor in SSU's School of Nursing, was quoted as saying of the new program, "A nursing degree equips future nurses with the scientific knowledge, clinical skills, and leadership abilities needed to excel in today's healthcare environment. Over four years, students study everything from anatomy and pathophysiology to psychology, community health, and nursing leadership. They also complete extensive clinical rotations in hospitals and community agencies, caring for patients across the lifespan. This degree opens the door to specialized nursing roles, leadership opportunities, and graduate-level education."

The new program will open doors for students in and near Chillicothe to enter into a local nursing program that is based on the structure of the university’s current and successful nursing program based in Portsmouth. That program has been training nurses in the area for years, and this new extension of the program will expand its reach.

Megan Isley, the Chief Nursing and Quality Executive at Adena Health, said, “The connection between education and practice is what makes this program so impactful. By combining classroom learning with real-world clinical experience, students will build the confidence, skills, and compassion that define exceptional nursing, supported by experienced care teams.”

The program’s clinical training opportunities will take place within Adena Health systems’ facilities, providing students with hands-on training that will prepare them for careers within the health system or similar facilities. In addition to training future healthcare workers, the partnership will also allow for employees who currently work at Adena Health to experience new education opportunities to advance their own careers.

Eric Braun, EdD, the President of Shawnee State University, said, "This is what it looks like when higher education meets a community's needs head-on. National Nurses Month is a time to celebrate the nurses who have shaped our communities and to make bold investments in the ones who are coming next. Students in this region will no longer have to choose between pursuing a nursing career and staying close to home. That changes everything."

The application deadline for the first cohort of the program, which will begin in Spring 2027, is October 1, 2026. 

For more information about Shawnee State University, visit the school’s website.