San Juan Regional Medical Center and San Juan College are partnering with purpose to deliver on a shared promise: expanding access to nursing education and strengthening our healthcare workforce. We are directly investing in our future workforce by expanding San Juan College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program by 50 percent to ensure that every patient in our community has access to highly trained and compassionate nurses. This transformative initiative will:
- Add 32 additional student slots per year in the program
- Provide faculty stipends and two new teaching positions per semester
- Provide students with living stipends so they can focus on their education
- Support capital investment in training aids and simulation tools
- Enhance student retention and scholarship support
“We are directly investing in our future workforce right here in the Four Corners, allowing us to cultivate a pipeline of exceptional nurses who are deeply rooted in our region,” said SJRMC’s President and CEO Jason Rounds.
“This marks a bold and transformative step in our shared commitment to uplifting this region through the power of education, healthcare and opportunity,” said Dr. Toni Pendergrass, SJC President.
Dr. Toni Pendergrass, President of San Juan College addresses those gathered at San Juan Regional Medical Center during the signing ceremony.
This partnership is about more than expanding enrollment—it's about building healthcare capacity and resilience for our community by confronting the nurse shortage at the grassroots level.
“This partnership will provide much needed support to help us recruit and retain top educators and allow us to say yes to more qualified applicants,” said SJC Director of Nursing Shawna Kemper.
Dr. Toni Pendergrass, President of San Juan College and Jason Rounds, President and CEO of San Juan Regional Medical Center are joined by representatives of both organizations.
“It is because of San Juan College that I was able to get my degree here locally and dedicate my 32-year nursing career to serving this community,” said Cindy Baez, Vice President of Patient Care Services. “I think it is very important that we increase the number of nursing students in our community, and I am so excited about this.”
As an independent, not-for-profit health system, we are deeply rooted in the community, and we’re proud to invest in the people who will care for New Mexico in the years ahead. This partnership represents more than an expansion of nursing education—it’s a commitment to educational access, community wellness and workforce sustainability. By growing local talent, we’re not only strengthening our healthcare system but also creating meaningful opportunities close to home and reinforcing our long-term commitment to the wellbeing of this region for generations to come.
Learn more about San Juan College’s nursing program here.