Penn Highlands Healthcare has expanded its workforce pipeline through Scholars Network, offering between $30,000 and $65,000 in student loan repayment to nursing and allied health graduates who commit to a three-year employment term after graduation. The program is open to registered nurses, respiratory therapists, CT technologists, radiologic technologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists — the full spread of roles Penn Highlands needs to staff across the 26 rural Pennsylvania counties it serves.
"We are excited to partner with Scholars Network to bring this vision to life and create new opportunities for future nurses and allied health professionals."
Lisa Smith, System Director of Talent Acquisition and Employee Engagement, Penn Highlands Healthcare
The model addresses two interlocking problems at once: graduates carrying significant debt as they enter the workforce, and rural health systems struggling to recruit and retain clinical talent against the pull of urban markets and travel staffing. By tying loan repayment to a defined work commitment, Penn Highlands builds a clinical workforce rooted in the communities it serves, while graduates start their careers without the weight of educational debt.