Widener Joins Scholars Network Connecting Students to Clinical Careers With Loan Repayment Support
Widener University has joined Scholars Network, a national workforce model designed to connect students, universities and healthcare employers to create direct, lower-debt pathways into high-need clinical careers.
“Higher education and healthcare are facing a shared challenge: how to prepare the next generation of clinicians without placing unsustainable financial burdens on students,” said Dr. Sam Maron, founder of Scholars Network. “This partnership with Widener University reflects a forward-thinking approach that connects education directly to employment, reduces student debt, and helps health systems build the workforce they urgently need. It’s a model designed not just to support students, but to strengthen the entire healthcare ecosystem.”
Students apply to work at a participating health system in the network and if accepted, receive generous student loan repayment support in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment. Participating healthcare providers in Pennsylvania are expanding and currently include Temple Health, Penn Medicine, Penn Highlands, WellSpan and The Guthrie Clinic.
Universities deliver academic and clinical training, while employers engage early by providing funding, mentorship and a direct line to employment. This alignment ensures students can pursue and complete their education with significantly less debt, while entering the workforce in roles that are already secured and aligned with health system needs.
“Widener is committed to preparing well-rounded and highly skilled healthcare professionals and is continually seeking strategies to minimize cost as a barrier to entry,” said Jane Oeffner, director of strategic clinical partnerships in the Office of the Provost at Widener. “By joining Scholars Network, we can offer students a more affordable path to a high-impact career, combined with meaningful connections to employers who are ready to invest in their success.”
Participating Widener programs include nursing, diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic technology, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physician assistant.
Widener’s participation comes at a time when institutions are seeking new, innovative ways to attract and retain students in healthcare fields while addressing workforce shortages.