Worcester State College President Janelle C. Ashley and Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital CEO Peter M. Mantegazza announce the continuation of the collaborative partnership formed in 2005 to meet the increasing demand for nurses with bachelor’s degrees. A key component is Fairlawn’s second $50,000 grant to the Worcester State Foundation to provide scholarships to senior Nursing majors who commit to at least one year of service to Fairlawn upon graduation from WSC.
“We remain committed to this partnership because the shortage of nurses has not eased,” Mantegazza said. “It will continue to meet our mutual goal to care for the people of central Massachusetts.”
“Nearly 80 percent of our graduating seniors remain in the Commonwealth to live, work and contribute to the community. I know that through this collaborative partnership, our nursing students benefit, Fairlawn benefits, and the community at-large benefits,” said President Ashley.
Sara Martel and Stacey Guella, both 2008 WSC graduates and past recipients of The Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital Scholarship, are scheduled to begin working at the hospital later this summer.
In fiscal year 2008, the Worcester State Foundation awarded $466,413 in scholarships and awards, up from $154,646 in fiscal year 2003.
Since its establishment in 1987 as the first physical rehabilitation hospital in central Massachusetts, Fairlawn has enjoyed a reputation as the area’s premier provider of physical rehabilitation services.
As a “neighbor” of WSC on May Street, Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital offers convenient accessibility and a challenging and interesting experience for the College’s graduating nurses.
Fairlawn itself is a partnership of two outstanding healthcare organizations—UMass Memorial Health Care and HealthSouth Corp. Because rehabilitation is Fairlawn’s sole focus, nurses dedicate all their skills and knowledge to a single goal—improving each patient’s functional abilities through intensive, individualized therapeutic services.