Healthcare Pathways Consortium Builds Bridges to Nursing Careers in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula

Written by Sydney Wojczynski, Evin Tas, and Katherine Frieden

A Collaborative Effort to Strengthen the

Healthcare Workforce

Nested in the beauty of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula is a first-of-its-kind program dedicated to supporting student pathways to careers in healthcare. Bay Mills Community College (BMCC), Lake Superior State University (LSSU), MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, and Sault Area High School & Career Center (SAHCC) have come together to form the Healthcare Pathways Consortium, a collaborative community effort to address regional healthcare shortages and create lasting solutions. Launched in September 2024, the Consortium aims to address two primary challenges in the healthcare workforce: expanding workforce capacity and retaining healthcare professionals in the region.

Meet the Leaders Behind the Initiative

We spoke to representatives from each participating organization to learn more about this initiative:

Diana McKenzie – Dean of Science and Allied Health Education, BMCC
Carrie Perez – Director of Nursing, BMCC
Charlotte Kostelyk – Associate Professor and Chair of School of Nursing, LSSU
Nicole Oliver, MBA, BSN, RN – Vice President of Nursing, MyMichigan Sault
Kathleen (Kat) Moore, BSN – Health Sciences Teacher, SAHCC

How the Healthcare Pathways Consortium Works

Each partner in the Consortium plays a crucial role in building and strengthening the healthcare workforce:

Sault Area High School & Career Center (SAHCC): Introduces students to healthcare careers through allied health career and technical education (CTE) courses
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC): Provides Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training, a Health Science associate degree and certificate, and, in the future, a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate
Lake Superior State University (LSSU): Offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), among other healthcare-related degrees
MyMichigan Medical Center Sault: Offers experiential learning and career opportunities

A Seamless Pathway from High School to Nursing Careers

The program creates a seamless pathway for students interested in healthcare – especially nursing – careers, integrating high school education with college coursework and hands-on experience.

Early Exposure to Healthcare Careers

SAHCC CTE students complete classroom instruction, develop technical skills during hands-on and work-based learning, and participate in leadership opportunities in the healthcare field.

MyMichigan Sault actively engages with allied health students, encouraging them to pursue healthcare careers. Key opportunities include:

Simulation Training – MyMichigan Sault has donated time at its simulation center to SAHCC’s allied health program, offering students valuable hands-on experience.
Job Shadowing – SAHCC allied health students participate in job shadowing at MyMichigan Sault with two different departments, helping them discover healthcare career options they may not have previously considered.

Educational Connections

High school students who complete the Health Sciences CTE program at SAHCC can earn:

Three college credits for medical terminology at BMCC and LSSU
Six college credits for Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training at BMCC
Credits for first aid at LSSU

Completers of the Health Science associate degree program at BMCC can transfer their credits to LSSU and apply to their BSN program, receiving preferential consideration in the admissions process.

A Groundbreaking Nursing Pathway

One innovation in the works is an LPN-to-BSN pathway partnership. Once the Michigan State Board of Nursing approves BMCC’s LPN certificate program, students who complete the certificate and pass the state licensing exam can earn credits toward LSSU’s BSN program. BMCC is working closely with LSSU to develop LPN courses that align with LSSU’s curriculum.

Traditionally, the pathway from LPN to BSN requires students to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) before earning their BSN. This new direct pathway:

Shortens the timeline for earning a BSN
Reduces costs for students
Addresses the regional nursing shortage by getting nurses into the field more quickly

A United Purpose

By fostering a strong connection between students, educators, and employers, the Healthcare Pathways Consortium is helping to create and retain a sustainable healthcare workforce in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula. Carrie Perez of BMCC spoke of the Consortium’s purpose, “No longer are we trying to compete. Rather, we’re supporting and promoting one another because the students that graduate and enter the workforce support all of our organizations.”

Learn More & Get Involved

For more information or to explore opportunities with the Healthcare Pathways Consortium, please contact [email protected]. Transfer information and articulation agreements can be accessed on Bay Mills Community College’s website.

For more information about innovative work happening in Michigan and nationwide, check out our database of healthcare workforce initiatives at www.mhc.org/initiatives.