Latest in a series of agreements to give more students pathways to health professions education at MGH Institute

It’s not uncommon for MGH Institute of Health Professions graduates to use the knowledge and skills they learn to help people by working in the Commonwealth. The same is true for graduates of Bridgewater State University. Now, a new agreement will give Bridgewater State graduates interested in health professions a pathway to many of the MGH Institute programs. 

On Friday, MGH Institute President Paula Milone-Nuzzo, PhD, RN, FHHC, FAAN, and Bridgwater State President Frederick Clark Jr., Esquire, signed an agreement that will guarantee admissions for Bridgewater State graduates who meet the admissions criteria to enroll in MGH Institute nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, health administration, healthcare data analytics, and health science programs. 

While attending the MGH Institute, the students will be able to learn from expert faculty, many of whom still practice in their professions, and have access to clinical placements throughout the Mass General Brigham system. They will train the way they will practice: collaboratively and in service of better care and better outcomes in the communities they serve.  

“This might be one of the most important articulation agreements that I have had the pleasure of signing on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff here at BSU,” said President Clark. “It’s a great opportunity for our students and a great opportunity for the Commonwealth. We’re in the process of building capacity in health sciences to better meet the needs of the Commonwealth and the industry so this really fits beautifully.” 

Producing students who give back to their communities is one area the two schools have in common. The schools’ shared values is another. 

“We recognize how similar we are in terms of our values, in terms of our mission, in terms of the work that we believe is important,” said President Milone-Nuzzo. “We are not only helping our students, which is our primary responsibility, we’re helping the community that we serve — the community of Bridgewater and the community of Massachusetts — by preparing individuals for careers in health professions.” 

That preparation is something that can begin before students even begin to train for a health professions career. The shared values and the education they received sets BSU graduates up for success in healthcare fields. 

“It’s a wonderful value alignment as well as a high-quality alignment. Healthcare providers do virtually everything they do based on humanistic relationships,” explained Dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics Dr. Martina Arndt. “They have to have the knowledge and the values and the skills to be effective, but in the absence of authentic and empathetic human relationship, none of it happens. We can bring those individuals to your campus, prepare them so well with that heart of a liberal arts education that fosters that humanistic education.” 

That foundation has served the BSU graduates who have attended the MGH Institute well, and the desire to produce graduates who will give back to the community has led BSU to make an effort expose more students to the possibility of becoming healthcare professionals. 

“I remember when you shared how many of our alumni are already in your program and doing very well,” Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Arnaa Alcon shared with the MGH Institute team at the signing ceremony. “We do a very good job, thanks to a lot of hard work, in introducing students to the idea of health professions, even if they hadn’t thought of that for themselves before.”

The partnership is one of several that the MGH Institute has engaged in, including Suffolk University and Providence College. More will be signed by the end of the year. 

“Schools like Bridgewater State want their students to come to their institution and get trained at the undergraduate level, so that they can be ready for graduate health professions education,” said Kevin Finn, Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “That’s where they see the value in this space, and they value the MGH Institute in the market as a premier graduate health professions program. They want that pipeline for their students, and we can give it to them.”

This pipeline will help ensure the training of more healthcare professionals given the growing need. 

“We know how critical the health profession shortage is right now, and it’s only going to get worse with the aging of the population,” said Dr. Milone-Nuzzo. “I think of the therapies that are going to be needed for individuals to age in a healthy way and to address the chronic illnesses that accompany aging. I’m a nurse by background and I can’t imagine what we’re going to be facing in the next five years in terms of primary care shortage. So, if we can add to the health professions population, we are doing an immense service for the communities we serve.”