New pipeline created by Henry Ford College and Corewell Health will employ nursing graduates

Henry Ford College in Dearborn and Corewell Health have created a new partnership agreement that will provide guaranteed employment for nursing school graduates in Corewell Health facilities.

According to an article on Henry Ford College’s website, an event was held in December to celebrate the new partnership, with officials from both organizations in attendance, as well as Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, the Mayor of Dearborn Abdullah Hammoud, and other local representatives. 

Kelli Sadler, MHA, RN, who is the senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Corewell Health, spoke at the event. She was quoted as saying, “This partnership is not just a win-win for Corewell Health and Henry Ford College, it’s a win-win for the city of Dearborn and ultimately, the entire state. This partnership will help fulfill our state’s need for skilled nurses who will provide patients with exceptional care in our communities. As a nurse for 28 years, I know firsthand how extremely rewarding and fulfilling a nursing career is. Seeing all of you seeking such a promising future brings me great joy. I look forward to having you join our incredible team at Corewell Health. And together, we can make a difference.”

Mayor Hammoud also spoke about the benefits of the partnership, saying, “About a year ago, my team gathered a group of leaders throughout the city with the intention of strengthening our best asset: our young, growing, and energized workforce. We asked, ‘What would it look like for students to have a career trajectory that’s certain, that reduces financial barriers, that ends in a guaranteed, high-paying job?’ This partnership between Corewell Health and Henry Ford College delivers on central priorities of economic opportunity and mobility for Dearborn. We are excited to have played a role in getting this pipeline launched, and even more excited for Dearborn students to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The partnership will be a boon for both Henry Ford College nursing students and for Corewell Health’s numerous clinics, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. The agreement between the two organizations will guarantee that HFC nursing graduates will be offered employment from Corewell Health, provided the graduates meet all requirements of employment, and Corewell Health will offer up its facilities for clinical opportunities for students in the nursing program. Staff from Corewell Health will also be available to help students learn in these clinical settings, and scholarships will be available through Corewell Health.

Another facet of the agreement is that Corewell Health will offer temporary part-time work to HFC nursing students during their time in school that will allow the students to earn course credit by working in a Corewell Health environment.

President Russ Kavalhuna of Henry Ford College was also on hand at the event to extoll the benefits of this new agreement. He was quoted as saying, “This partnership sets the stage for a consistent pipeline of highly skilled nurses who will enter their profession with customized training, a broad knowledge base, and direct experience in the Corewell Health model of patient care. Many will also graduate virtually debt-free. We are proud of the innovative thinking and strong collaboration that went into developing this unique partnership with a world-class health system and our community of Dearborn. The program will benefit HFC students and Corewell Health, and in the long run, it will also benefit Michigan citizens statewide and will help recruit and retain talent in our state. This is another excellent example of what can happen when business and education come together to create high value for our state’s economy, families, and students.”

For more information about Henry Ford College, visit the school’s website.