A regional leader in educating New Jersey’s health care workforce, William Paterson University has maintained a long-standing partnership with St. Joseph’s Health for nearly 60 years. The university’s school of nursing, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, has grown to become the largest on any single campus in the state, while its partnership with St. Joseph’s Health has also expanded and evolved.
“St. Joseph’s Health is a key clinical partner that plays an important role in educating our students to succeed in their careers and in helping William Paterson University to increasingly meet the expanding need for allied health professionals in our region and state,” says Joshua Powers, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
In the past two years, more than 250 university nursing students have had clinical experiences at St. Joseph’s Health, covering areas including med/surg, obstetrics, pediatrics, and cardiology. St. Joseph’s representatives serve on the school of nursing advisory board, and many of their nurses are adjunct professors at the university. Students and faculty also participate in special training opportunities with St. Joseph’s, including emergency preparedness drills.
“Our nursing students give positive evaluations of their clinical experiences at St. Joseph’s Health, and St. Joseph’s provides valuable feedback about ways to improve our curriculum to address any gaps in knowledge or skills,” said Dr. Minerva Guttman, associate dean of the school of nursing. “There is not only a nursing shortage, but a severe shortage of nursing faculty, and St. Joseph’s is a great resource for meeting that need.”
Beyond nursing, students in the university’s exercise physiology programs do internships at St. Joseph’s cardiopulmonary rehabilitation facilities. St. Joseph’s is also a top employer of William Paterson graduates.
Dr. Jill Guzman, director of the university’s counseling, health, and wellness center, believes the partnership is strengthened by location and mission. “Their Wayne hospital is practically on our campus. We serve the same population and share the same commitment to our diverse community.”
St. Joseph’s provides medical care to students referred by the counseling, health, and wellness center, and offers no-cost mental health services through a grant-funded program. They also participate in campus community health events, providing free health screenings, physician referrals, and health education.
“They have made a concerted effort to be active in our community, whether it’s working with students, faculty, or staff. They really care about our community, and you can see that in all their work,” said Dr. Guzman.
