Spotlight On: Sheryl Jameson, Tampa Campus President, Concorde Career Institute

Key points:

• • Concorde Career Institute is expanding healthcare training programs to help address workforce shortages across Tampa Bay.
• • Sheryl Jameson says employer partnerships are essential for aligning education with real-world healthcare needs.
• • Short-term training programs and new technologies are creating faster pathways into healthcare careers.

June 2026 — Sheryl Jameson, Tampa campus president of Concorde Career Institute, spoke with Invest: about workforce development, employer partnerships, and the growing demand for healthcare education in Tampa Bay. “Healthcare continues to offer strong demand and career stability, which has become increasingly important as industries adapt to new technologies and changing workforce conditions,” Jameson said.

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How has Concorde Career Institute’s Tampa campus supported workforce development in the region?

Concorde Career Institute has been part of the Tampa Bay community for 37 years, and during that time, the campus has graduated more than 13,000 students. Many of those graduates have gone on to work across the healthcare system and contribute to the local economy and community.

The Tampa campus serves nearly 500 students across 10 healthcare programs. Concorde works closely with employer partners, including Tampa General Hospital, AdventHealth, HCA, and OneBlood. Those partnerships help ensure students receive hands-on training aligned with industry needs.

Employer partners also participate in program advisory committees, where they provide input on curriculum, equipment, and workforce trends. Most students complete clinical rotations or externships with local healthcare providers, giving them direct exposure to real healthcare environments before entering the workforce.

What makes the Tampa campus unique within Concorde’s broader network?

What makes Tampa special is the strength of the local partnerships and the growth happening across the region. Concorde works not only with hospitals, clinics and dental offices, but also with organizations such as OneBlood through programs like phlebotomy, which can serve as an entry point into healthcare careers.

Many students begin in one career path and later return to continue their education and expand their skills. Concorde also offers online programs through our Kansas City campus that allow working professionals across the country to continue their education more flexibly.

I have been with Concorde for more than four years and in post-secondary education for more than 26 years. The reason I stay in education is because I see students come in unsure of themselves, grow their confidence, graduate, pursue careers in healthcare and give back to their communities. You are not only helping one student, but also their families and the larger community.

How is Tampa Bay’s growth affecting demand for healthcare education?

Tampa Bay has become a destination where people want to live and work, and that growth continues to increase demand for healthcare services and healthcare workers.

As the region grows, Concorde continues developing relationships with healthcare providers entering or expanding within the market. Orlando Health is one example of a system increasing its footprint in Tampa, and Concorde has continued building partnerships to support workforce needs as the market evolves.

How is Concorde investing in growth to meet healthcare workforce demand?

There is a significant workforce shortage in healthcare, and Concorde continues expanding programs to meet employer demand. Concorde operates 18 campuses across eight states and online, serving approximately 11,000 students nationally.

At the organizational level, Concorde is guided by a strategy focused on growth, diversification, and optimization. That includes aligning programs with employer needs and expanding training opportunities in high-demand healthcare fields.

In Tampa, one recent investment has been the expansion of the respiratory therapy program. Concorde doubled cohort sizes to serve more students and increase training opportunities. Local healthcare employers expressed the need for additional respiratory therapists, and the campus expanded the program in response to that demand.

Concorde is also exploring additional healthcare program expansions in Tampa, though details have not yet been finalized.

What role do shorter-term programs play in workforce development?

Concorde recently launched shorter-term programs in phlebotomy and sterile processing. The phlebotomy program can be completed in about three months, while sterile processing takes approximately five months.

There is growing student interest in shorter, skill-based training pathways that allow people to  complete training in a compressed timeframe. Concorde also offers diploma programs such as dental assistant, medical assistant, and pharmacy technician that can be completed in less than a year.

These programs serve both students training to enter the workforce for the first time and individuals making mid-career transitions. Healthcare continues to offer strong demand and career stability, which has become increasingly important as industries adapt to new technologies and changing workforce conditions.

How are technology and AI influencing healthcare education?

Emerging technologies, including AI, are creating new opportunities and changing workforce expectations across healthcare. Concorde works closely with employer partners and program advisory committees to understand how those technologies are affecting healthcare roles and training needs.

Curriculum teams regularly review industry trends and update programs accordingly. Concorde instructors also bring real-world experience into the classroom, helping students understand current best practices and changes happening within healthcare environments.

Technology is also influencing how students search for education and career opportunities. Concorde has adapted its admissions and marketing strategies to better connect with students who increasingly rely on digital tools and AI-driven search platforms for information.

How is Concorde incorporating advanced training tools into education?

Concorde’s surgical technology program is preparing to participate in a research project with USF focused on workforce readiness and advanced medical training technologies.

The project will compare immersive VR simulation training with traditional training methods. Students will complete training scenarios such as back table setup and operating room fire management while receiving feedback from experienced surgical technology professionals.

The goal is to support skill development, improve confidence, and evaluate how advanced simulation tools can strengthen healthcare training outcomes.

How does Concorde balance accessibility, affordability, and quality?

Concorde works with many nontraditional students who face challenges including rising living costs, financial insecurity, housing pressures, and family responsibilities.

The institution focuses on providing support throughout the student journey. Before students enroll, Concorde helps them explore career alignment tools that match programs to their aptitudes and interests. Throughout their program, Concorde provides career development resources, such as resume writing, interview preparation and job search support.

The Tampa campus also provides in-person support through financial aid staff, business office personnel, and other campus resources. Students can meet face-to-face with support teams while completing their programs. We are always thinking about affordability and access. 

Concorde also works with employers that provide scholarships to students who qualify. Those partnerships help employers build long-term talent pipelines while improving affordability and access for students entering healthcare careers.

How does Concorde support the local community beyond workforce training?

Concorde’s dental hygiene clinic is open to the public and provides free or low cost preventive care that can help bridge the gap of unmet dental health needs in the community. Our students, under the supervision of faculty and licensed dental professionals, fulfill their clinical requirements by performing a variety of dental care services for local residents. It reflects Concorde’s broader commitment to supporting both workforce development and community healthcare needs across Tampa Bay.

To raise awareness of our clinic, we currently host two pediatric “Making Tampa Smile” events annually, where we provide no-cost services for kids. After piloting this as part of a national initiative in February 2025, our clinic was booked out through June of that year, due in large part to our team’s tremendous community outreach. Our employer partners, who sponsor these events, also have meaningful face-time with our students.

Want more? Read the Invest: Tampa Bay report.