Newswise — Edison, NJ – June 16, 2023 – Hackensack Meridian Health is pleased to announce the creation of the Sheila Cancro Institute for Nursing Leadership and Practice Excellence to provide infrastructure, support and advocacy for nurses as they advance their careers, education and research. In addition, a New Career Initiative will help build a pipeline of new nurses by offering financial relief to students.
“One of the greatest challenges in healthcare in the U.S. today is attracting and retaining nursing talent,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “ In this fiercely competitive market, I am thrilled that we are able to advance new initiatives to support the professional growth of our nurses and ensure we are able to meet workforce demands now and in the future.”
The Institute is named after Sheila Cancro, a former nurse’s aide who instilled in her children the value of hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit and a heartfelt appreciation for caring for others. Her son Peter Cancro, the founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s, a national sandwich franchise, made a generous donation to create the institute.
The Sheila Cancro Institute will provide a centralized structure that will offer new and enhanced pathways for Hackensack Meridian Health nurses to achieve professional and educational excellence. This includes the development of new programs, activities and resources that will increase leadership capacity, continuously promote higher-level skill sets and knowledge, facilitate structural empowerment and improve the health care experience for both patients and the nursing team.
The New Career Initiative will provide a loan forgiveness model for students seeking a rewarding career in nursing that supports the student financially with the promise of employment for three years.
“By offering nursing students the financial support, training and first-destination career opportunities they need, we will be in a position to significantly impact the future of health care by focusing on the next generation of talent,” said Regina Foley, Ph.D., MBA, RN, executive vice president, chief transformation officer and interim nurse executive at Hackensack Meridian Health. “Through the Sheila Cancro Institute, we will be able to provide a one-stop approach for our nurses to help initiate their career development and professional growth. Together, these initiatives will have a profound impact on our organization and beyond.”
To learn more about how you can support nursing at Hackensack Meridian Health, please visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/NursingPhilanthropy.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey.
The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.
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