WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) held a formal signing ceremony on Friday, January 24, for nursing students accepted into the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. Because tuition support generally already exists for nursing students in terms of student loans, grants, and scholarships, the Aspiring Nurse Program provides each student up to $25,000 to support their real needs: everyday expenses. A total of fifteen students were accepted into the winter 2025 cohort.

 

“United Hospital Center is known for excellence in providing healthcare. We carry this commitment to excellence over to our workplace environment, where we are dedicated to maintaining the best place to work in healthcare,” said David F. Hess, MD, president and CEO at UHC. “The Aspiring Nurse program is a reflection of our health system’s commitment to our nursing staff and works to provide a foundation for a successful career.” 

 

Each student accepted into the program will receive up to $25,000 over the course of four semesters upon hire in exchange for a three-year work commitment following graduation. Students accepted to the program will also receive support from academic success coaches and complete clinical rotations at UHC to ensure they receive high-quality, hands-on clinical immersion experiences to assist them as they transition to professional nursing practice.

 

Davis & Elkins, Fairmont State University, West Virginia University, and WVJC were selected among local colleges to participate in the program. The partnership between UHC and nursing programs at these educational institutions demonstrates a commitment to collaborative education and workforce development.

 

“This initiative is innovative in that it aims to address financial challenges faced by nursing students while simultaneously creating a pipeline for them to excel in their career after school,” said Stephanie Smart, MSN, RN, vice president of Nursing/CNO.

 

For more information on the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program, visit WVUMedicine.org/Aspiring-Nurse-Program.

 

Editor's Note: Photo shows Dr. David Hess, UHC President and Ceo, on the far left, and Stephanie Smart, MSN, RN, vice president of Nursing/CNO, far right, with this year's 2025 cohort.