Nursing Partnering with College of Medicine on Diversity Outreach and Pipeline Program in Florida

College of Nursing is beginning an exciting partnership with the College of Medicine’s Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity & Excellence (SSTRIDE) Program.

On Feb. 1, 2022, the President’s Council on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Mini-Grant Program awarded the College of Nursing with financial support to expand nursing offerings to students in the College of Medicine’s SSTRIDE program.

SSTRIDE operates as a pipeline program across five counties throughout Florida including, Gadsden, Orange, Okaloosa, Collier, and Sarasota. The program provides resources to students who come from traditionally underserved and underrepresented backgrounds, and have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in science, engineering, mathematics, health, or medicine. The new nursing workshop series will provide targeted outreach to expand students’ understanding of nursing career pathways. Workshop activities feature speakers from College of Nursing faculty and student leaders.

The partnership with the SSTRIDE program offers a tremendous opportunity for the College of Nursing to collaborate with an established outreach program in a pivotal time where nursing shortages are abundant. “The FSU College of Medicine’s SSTRIDE and Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Programs have been working for over 20 plus years to identify minority and underserved students who have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in the sciences, health, or medicine,” said Thesla Berne-Anderson, Founder of SSTRIDE/Executive Director of Undergraduate Outreach and Precollege Programs, FSU College of Medicine. “Through our comprehensive support services and model mentorship program, we have succeeded in helping thousands of students achieve their dream. It only makes sense for us to partner with the College of Nursing to expand our reach and to give additional students the support services needed not only to succeed in medicine, but nursing as well.”

The workshop series will be held throughout the remainder of the spring semester with growing momentum for continued collaboration. “Partnership with College of Medicine demonstrates our shared commitment to diversity and inclusion, and showcases our team approach where we see future of healthcare having doctors and nurses trained together and work together as a team to provide best care for our patients. I am very excited about this unique opportunity to expand nursing career pathways in the SSTRIDE program.” said Dean Dr. Jing Wang, “Nursing is a calling, we need more nurses”.

SSTRIDE programs also have a SSTRIDE Connect and USSTRIDE program designed to assist with college transition, student development, and academic achievement for current Florida State University students. The College of Nursing is excited for this new partnership and looks forward to seeing more SSTRIDE program students entering nursing at FSU and launching a successful nursing career.

For more information about the College of Medicine SSTRIDE programs, contact Jodi Truel, SSTRIDE Program Director in the Southern Region.