MedNexus partners celebrate entry of UNF MedNexus in City of Palm Coast

The University of North Florida, along with its MedNexus partners including the City of Palm Coast, Daytona State College, AdventHealth and Allete Energy, today hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the entry of UNF MedNexus in Palm Coast.

UNF MedNexus is designed to be the nation’s first comprehensive, university-based medical and healthcare nexus, partnering with local medical centers and connecting healthcare providers with university students, faculty and researchers. UNF MedNexus represents a hub and spoke approach to healthcare education and outreach, with Palm Coast being the first educational connection or spoke.

Through public-private partnerships, UNF MedNexus will have its first courses offered in January 2021 and the first Nursing cohort to begin Fall 2021 in Palm Coast. UNF MedNexus partnership support includes a financial commitment from the City of Palm Coast, a new nursing simulation lab from AdventHealth, and the building of a teaching facility from Allete Energy, through Douglas Properties.

In addition, UNF President David Szymanski and Daytona State College President Tom LoBasso signed an official Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions that will further elevate healthcare education and support the specific needs of the region.  

“We are very appreciative of the support and strong partnerships in Palm Coast that will allow UNF MexNexus to offer UNF courses in the area which will further prepare high quality healthcare professionals in Northeast Florida,” said UNF President Szymanski. “Our MOU with Daytona State College will also advance healthcare education in an innovative way to help fill the healthcare needs of the community and the state.”

With a continued shortage of healthcare professionals in the region, UNF MedNexus will address the increased demand by providing students with the education and experience needed to enter the workforce. In addition to Daytona State College, UNF MedNexus partners will also include local secondary school systems that will work together to develop unique career pathways from high school through to job placement.

UNF MedNexus partnership goals include developing unique experiential learning opportunities through immersion in existing health facilities, classes taught by experienced healthcare professionals and research that is problem specific and company sponsored. UNF MedNexus partnerships will continue to take place among universities, colleges, and high schools in addition to hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, technology companies and others.