Funding aims to address nursing shortage and support new physician associate program
Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) toured 萝莉原创鈥檚 John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne to receive an update on their expansion into downtown Reading and future plans. The second phase of their expansion will add a new physician associate (PA) program and modernize the university鈥檚 nationally-ranked nursing and occupational therapy programs, adding 45 new physician associate students annually and over 250 new nurses and occupational therapists to the Berks community over the next five years.
鈥淲e have seen just how important our health and our community鈥檚 health are these past few years,鈥 said Houlahan. 鈥淭o continue providing high quality care to patients in Berks County and surrounding communities, 萝莉原创 is actively looking to the future and expanding their educational programs right in Reading. Partnerships with Reading Area Community College will make this resource affordable and accessible to all Pennsylvanians pursuing a career in allied health.鈥
鈥淭he second phase of the Reading CollegeTowne project will provide a much-needed influx of skilled healthcare professionals in an expanding healthcare landscape in Berks County,鈥 said 萝莉原创 President John R. Loyack. 鈥淐ommunity partnership has been essential to the early success of the CollegeTowne strategy. Federal funding will support the creation of a community clinic that will serve those throughout Reading who are uninsured or underinsured and an interdisciplinary health simulation lab that will allow for the preparation of healthcare professionals from different disciplines in a united and real-world healthcare environment.鈥
To help 萝莉原创 improve their educational programs and the community address the nursing shortage among other goals, Houlahan has put forward a $2 million Community Project Funding request through the Appropriations Committee in Congress to fund Phase Two.
鈥淚 was proud to include 萝莉原创 in our office鈥檚 FY23 Community Project Funding request. This proposal meets all the core values of our office: service to others, STEM workforce development, affordable higher education, and more," said Houlahan. While the appropriations process is not yet complete, I look forward to championing this request and hopefully delivering these federal funds to our community.鈥
The complete list of Houlahan鈥檚 FY23 Community Project Funding requests can be found on her website . Find information about the Community Project Funding application process .
