Healthcare, education partner to grow South Florida’s workforce
Writer: Mariana Hernández
June 2025 — The intersection between healthcare and education has become one of the most important frontiers for South Florida’s workforce development. Florida ranks No. 1 for higher education and No. 21 for healthcare, according to U.S. News & World Report, highlighting the importance of collaboration to close care gaps, address workforce shortages, and support the region’s economic growth.
“Miami continues to attract investment and talent and needs a strong healthcare system to support that growth,” said Consuelo Nelson, dean of Galen College of Nursing in an interview with Invest:. “The city’s healthcare infrastructure is robust enough to meet the demands of the growing and diverse population, and we play a part in meeting the system’s growing needs.”
A recent example is a new partnership between Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and Nicklaus Children’s Health System. The collaboration is designed to enhance pediatric care, address the shortage of healthcare professionals, and broaden research and educational opportunities for medical students throughout Florida.
Efforts in recent years have already made headway, with the vacancy rate for registered nurses dropping from 21% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2024, as cited by South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report.
Miami Dade College has also contributed to healthcare workforce development in a meaningful way. Dr. Alwyn Leiba, interim president of MDC’s Medical Campus shared with Invest: that the college “collaborates with local healthcare partners to ensure that its healthcare programs align with the needs of the healthcare community… By focusing on high-demand healthcare professions.”
Today’s programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on training through simulations and clinical rotations. Galen College of Nursing, through its long-standing partnership with HCA Healthcare, provides students with access to clinical training and advanced simulation labs on a global scale.
“We’ve strengthened our academic offerings through our enhanced community partnerships, playing an essential role in providing clinical training for our students. Collaboration enhances the quality of education that we provide and strengthens the program’s reputation,” said Nelson.
West Coast University’s Miami campus is also evolving its programming through active engagement with healthcare providers. “To ensure our students are being prepared to current industry standards, we have a Program Advisory Committee that includes Deans of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officers, and hiring partners,” said Campus Executive Director Sharon Richardson to Invest:. “This committee plays a key role in identifying challenges hospitals face and helping us bridge those gaps.”
As new workforce pipelines are developed to train professionals across clinical, administrative, and operational roles, the region is building a stronger environment for workforce development.
Top image provided by Miami Dade College
For more information, please visit:
https://www.nicklaushealth.org/home
https://westcoastuniversity.edu/campuses/miami
https://galencollege.edu/campuses/miami
