One of the central components of AtlantiCare 's strategic Vision 2030 plan is an effort to expand opportunities for education. That pillar is two-fold. The first component is AtlantiCare YOUniversity, which aims to nurture local, internal and external talent. The other is a partnership with Drexel University College of Medicine to establish a medical school in Atlantic City.
"Through this clinical training affiliation, AtlantiCare aims to nurture top-notch medical professionals and ensure the pipeline of talent is equipped to meet the ever-growing and evolving needs of the region and beyond," President and CEO Michael Charlton told NJBIZ.
While it's still too soon to determine how some specifics will shake out, energy around the initiative is high. Following the April announcement, we caught up with the leader for a closer look at what's to come.
The following conversation was edited for length and clarity. NJBIZ:When do you expect to begin welcoming students under your partnership with Drexel? Charlton : The timeline for the first cohort of third-year medical students ... is slated to begin in May 2025.
Q: How many students do you anticipate or hope to have in the first cohort? And annually after that? A: The number of College of Medicine year 3 and 4 medical students at AtlantiCare for their clerkship years, or clinical medical training, is dependent on factors such as our capacity, availability of educational resources, etc. According to Drexel, we can expect the initial numbers to range from 10 to 40 medical students per year.
Q: Is housing included as part of the program? A: At this time our plans are in development and we are exploring all options.
Q: How does Stockton University fit in with these efforts around education? A: We are growing local talent across the board, that includes growth in our nurses, our social workers, and so many other professional roles. AtlantiCare has been a longtime partner with Stockton University for our nursing program and through VISION 2030 we hope to continue to expand upon that successful partnership.
Creating talent
Q: Why is it important for the hospital and the city to draw medical students to Atlantic City? A: AtlantiCare is an anchor institution for the region. We serve the community, we employ the community, and we have the power to create real and lasting change. The workforce initiatives AtlantiCare is implementing through VISION 2030 were designed to help us achieve our goal of becoming a nationally recognized employer of choice. Establishing a medical school in New Jersey to diversify and strengthen the talent pipeline is one piece of a larger plan that also includes development programs for current team members and opportunities for community members seeking careers in other health care roles.
Instead of just focusing on attracting top talent, AtlantiCare is creating it. We have a wealth of compassionate, driven individuals on our team and in the local community representing the new generation of healthcare excellence. The opportunities we give our students equate to opportunities for AtlantiCare, the people we serve, and the future of our industry.
It's about weaving medical education and research into the fabric of the community to foster a healthier, more vibrant region.
A medical school in Atlantic City represents more than just training health care professionals it's about weaving medical education and research into the fabric of the community to foster a healthier, more vibrant region.
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A good bet
At 125 years old, AtlantiCare is looking ahead: doubling down on its workforce and building a staff for the future. Get a closer look here , from the April 29, 2024, issue of NJBIZ . [/box]
This is an opportunity to address both the immediate and systemic challenges faced by those who've been historically underserved or underrepresented in health care. Through Drexel’s work in communities like Reading, Pa., we’ve seen the profound impact this model can have, and we're committed to replicating that success here, bringing hope and real change to the area.
Q: Is there concern about students leaving once their training is complete? A: We expect students to come for an unparalleled learning experience in AtlantiCare’s state-of-the-art facilities. We hope they choose to stay for the mission and the culture of continuous learning, empowerment, innovation and adaptiveness.
Personally, I can’t think of a better place to live and work than the Jersey Shore.
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