Campus to Career: Marist University and Nuvance Health Expand Collaborations to Develop Future Healthcare Leaders
From left: Surgical Physician Assistant at Nuvance Health Danielle Mazzeo helps Marist University Physician Assistant Student Valerie DeLeon prep for work with the surgical team at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.
October 7, 2025 鈥� Marist University and Nuvance Health, now joining , are deepening their strategic academic alliance to enhance healthcare education and workforce development throughout the Hudson Valley and tri-state region.
The relationship now includes the launch of a new leadership certificate program taught by Marist faculty and designed to cultivate emerging leaders within Nuvance Health. The two organizations have already been working together for nearly a decade to grow the healthcare workforce of tomorrow through expanded student pipelines and providing training in an array of clinical placements and care delivery settings. Nuvance Health offers clinical rotations for Marist students in physician assistant, physical therapy, and medical laboratory science programs.
鈥淥ur newly expanded partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between Marist and Nuvance,鈥� said Dean of Science and Senior Associate Provost for Academic Operations Dr. Alicia Slater. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud that the work we began years ago has helped lay the groundwork for an agreement that now brings in two additional schools across our campus.鈥�
The University鈥檚 School of Computer Science and Mathematics is also exploring ways to develop new opportunities for technology students to learn about and work with healthcare data. This would create valuable pre-professional training for Marist students 鈥� and a potential workforce pipeline for Nuvance Health 鈥� amid rising demand for professionals who can turn complex healthcare data into actionable insights.
Marist Physician Assistant Student Valerie DeLeon carefully follows sterile protocols before entering a surgical suite at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.
鈥淥ur two institutions share a commitment to providing students with exceptional applied learning experiences that prepare them for real-world challenges,鈥� said Dr. Catherine Gunther Kodat, Provost at Marist. 鈥淲orking together not only enriches the educational journey but also helps build a highly skilled workforce ready to meet the evolving health needs of our communities.鈥�
鈥淟eadership in healthcare is not just about managing teams 鈥� it鈥檚 about inspiring purpose, fostering resilience, and driving innovation in service of our patients,鈥� said Dr. Dereck DeLeon, Chief Academic Officer for Nuvance Health. 鈥淭his partnership with Marist University reflects our shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of care with integrity, empathy, and excellence.鈥�
New Leadership Certificate Program at Nuvance Health
The newly launched Emerging Leaders Program at Nuvance Health is a 15-week course designed by Marist University to equip early-career leaders at the healthcare system with essential skills in financial stewardship, people and team management, communication, and decision-making.
Taught by Marist鈥檚 expert faculty in the School of Management, this program was tailored for employees with significant workplace experience who are eager to develop their leadership skills. Participants attend weekly, interactive virtual sessions during paid work hours. The first group of 25 celebrated their graduation in late September.
鈥淭his program is a prime example of how targeted, real-time learning can empower future leaders,鈥� said Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of Marist鈥檚 School of Management. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to collaborate with Nuvance Health to help employees grow their leadership potential and strengthen the healthcare workforce from within through鈥痩ifelong learning and upskilling programs.鈥�
鈥淎t Nuvance Health, we believe in growing talent from within and creating pathways for our people to thrive,鈥� said Katie Cullinan, Chief Human Resources Officer for Nuvance Health. 鈥淭his collaboration with Marist University is a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can unlock opportunity, strengthen our workforce, and ensure we continue to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.鈥�
Medical and Health Services Manager is consistently ranked among the Best Health Care Jobs by U.S. News & World Report. In 2024, it was ranked highly based on factors like salary, job market, future growth, stress level, and work-life balance.
Nuvance Health鈥檚 data integrity specialist Patricia Neves poses with her Marist University Emerging Leaders certificate after the program鈥檚 recent graduation event. Photo courtsey of Nuvance Health.
A data integrity specialist for Nuvance Health for the past 11 years, Patricia Neves was among 25 recent graduates of the first Emerging Leaders cohort. The sessions taught her valuable skills in communication, teamwork, budgeting, conflict resolution, and more, and will help her toward her goal of a career in the health system鈥檚 Human Resources Department.
鈥淭his was a great program that provided me with teaching tools I can use at work,鈥� Neves said. 鈥淚 want to share the skills I learned with my colleagues.鈥�
Expanding Clinical Training Opportunities
Marist and Nuvance Health are addressing workforce needs in the fast-growing and talent-scarce healthcare sector while helping to grow and retain talent in the Hudson Valley and beyond. A report from Albany鈥檚 Center for Health Workforce Studies projects a shortfall of 2,500 to 17,000 physicians statewide by 2030, with the Hudson Valley among the regions likely to have the largest gaps in meeting demand. The region鈥檚 aging population is also driving greater demand for healthcare services, while a shrinking workforce is leaving fewer nurses, doctors, and lab technicians to meet that need, according to local think-tank Pattern for Progress.
In addition to leadership development, the partnership continues to enhance clinical education for Marist students preparing for healthcare careers. As part of the agreement:
- Students in the PA, DPT, and medical laboratory science programs receive hands-on training at Nuvance Health facilities, including state-of-the-art medical centers, a Level I trauma center, pediatric inpatient services, and award-winning birth centers.
- Dedicated liaisons from both organizations ensure students have access to the resources and support they need during their clinical rotations.
- Marist and Nuvance Health collaborate each semester to align academic needs with clinical experiences, ensuring programs address the latest marketplace demands.
From Left: Clinical Preceptor and PA-C Danielle Mazzeo, Marist PA student Valerie DeLeon, and PA-C Raechel Bayuzick pose for a portrait outside Vassar Brothers Medical Center鈥檚 surgical suites. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.
Clinical rotations are a cornerstone of healthcare education, offering students immersive, hands-on experiences that directly support their professional development and career readiness.
鈥淐linical placements at Nuvance Health鈥檚 Vassar Brothers, Danbury, Northern Dutchess, and other healthcare settings ensure our students gain the practical skills and professional insight they need to thrive in today鈥檚 healthcare landscape,鈥� said Dr. Slater.
