Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Expanding Employment & Educational Opportunities For Underserved Students

Ft. Myers, Fla., Date —  Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) announced a dynamic new partnership that will help prepare a diverse population of students for job opportunities and support them while they continue their education. Our partnership with Strayer University’s Grads to Work program will tap individuals interested in long-term employment in the health care sector who may not otherwise have means to support their education and provide them with a pathway to a non-clinical associate degree as they pursue their career goals.

After successfully completing a five-week workforce readiness course, candidates will initially be eligible to interview for open positions at Florida Gulf Coast locations. Additional positions will become available throughout the practice’s nearly 100 locations as the program develops. Those who are hired will pursue an associate degree at Strayer at no cost to them, while gaining on-the-job experience as patient service representatives. Additionally, FCS will provide mentoring opportunities. For FCS, this is an opportunity to employ entry-level diverse talent, a critical asset especially today as the healthcare market continues to experience ongoing staffing shortages.

FCS Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker said, “Our statewide practice is at the forefront of cancer care and clinical research. We believe that combining employment and educational opportunities will create enormous opportunity and positive change in communities across Florida.”

“We’re thrilled to bring Grads to Work to a talent-focused organization like FCS,” said Andréa Backman, President of Strayer University. “Providing no cost pathways to a degree along with access to top employers can offer a unique opportunity to underserved young adults as they work to build their careers.”

FCS employs more than 4,000 team members at nearly 100 locations throughout Florida.

Strayer University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).