In a strategic move to combat the pressing shortage of healthcare professionals in New York, Keuka College has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative offering fully funded graduate degrees in nursing and social work. This endeavor, in collaboration with the Caring Gene® Career Pathways Training Program—a state-supported project managed by the Iroquois Healthcare Association and financed by the New York State Department of Health—aims to bolster the number of qualified practitioners serving the state’s most vulnerable populations.
Under this program, eligible students can pursue Keuka College’s Master of Science in Nursing (Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner) or a clinical Master of Social Work without the financial burden of tuition, books, and academic fees. In return, participants commit to a three-year tenure at a healthcare, behavioral health, or social care facility in New York that caters to a patient base where at least 30% rely on Medicaid or lack insurance. This service obligation is to be completed by 2031, following degree completion by spring 2027.
Dr. Heather Maldonado, Keuka College’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, emphasized the initiative’s potential impact:
“By opening the door to nursing and social work degrees for more students and incentivizing their service to local communities, Keuka College and Caring Gene are helping to build up the healthcare workforce in chronically underserved areas.”
The Caring Gene® Career Pathways Training Program is dedicated to identifying individuals with a natural inclination for caregiving—the so-called “Caring Gene®”—and supporting their educational and professional development in the health sector. This initiative not only addresses immediate workforce shortages but also invests in the long-term sustainability of quality care provision across the state.
Prospective students from 32 upstate counties, including Albany, Clinton, Jefferson, and Tompkins, are encouraged to seize this opportunity. With no income restrictions and the possibility of combining this funding with other state and federal aid such as TAP and PELL grants, the program is designed to be accessible to a broad range of applicants. Given the limited timeframe, interested individuals are advised to act promptly.
For more information and to begin the application process, visit caringgene.org.
