Expanding Access to Healthcare Careers: SFU’s Curry Innovation Center Partners with Laurel Highlands CNA Training Hub
Saint Francis University’s Curry Innovation Center in downtown Altoona opened its doors last week to celebrate a new partnership with the Laurel Highlands CNA Training Hub (The Hub) — a collaborative initiative designed to address the region’s growing need for healthcare workers.
The Hub, a project of the Training & Education Fund, focuses on creating more certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the Altoona and Johnstown areas. Through its partnership with Saint Francis University, the Hub will expand its reach and impact, helping more local residents train for rewarding careers in healthcare while ensuring that hospitals and care facilities have the staffing they need to serve the community.
“Saint Francis University has a long and proud history of preparing compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals,” said Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, TOR, Ph.D., University President. “Through this partnership with the Laurel Highlands CNA Training Hub, we’re able to extend that mission beyond our campus walls to meet a critical community need. By combining our academic expertise with the Hub’s innovative approach, we’re helping to grow the local caregiver workforce and strengthen healthcare access across the region.”
Removing Barriers, Building Opportunities
The open house event drew community leaders, healthcare employers, and residents eager to learn more about the new program. Representatives from both organizations spoke about the collaborative spirit behind the effort and their shared goal of reducing barriers for those entering the healthcare field.
“We’re so excited for this partnership with Saint Francis University and the Curry Innovation Center,” said Lisa Williams, Executive Director of the Training & Education Fund. “This is a tremendous opportunity to do some real good by training more caregivers to serve this community. I think we’re going to do great things for Altoona and the surrounding areas.”
What sets the Hub apart is its focus on supporting the whole student. Beyond classroom instruction and testing, The Hub identifies and removes potential roadblocks that may prevent participants from completing the program.
“The fact that we help enrollees get access to these wrap-around services in the community is essential,” explained Kayla Thomas, a case manager for the Hub. “Childcare, transportation, and even extra money to pay for supplies — other CNA programs aren’t providing that help, and it’s often crucial to their success.”
Looking Ahead
With support from Saint Francis University and the Curry Innovation Center, the Laurel Highlands CNA Training Hub is actively recruiting new participants for its next cohort and hiring nurse aide instructors—both full-time and per diem—in the Altoona and Johnstown areas.
This partnership exemplifies the Curry Innovation Center’s mission to foster collaboration between education, industry, and community partners to create solutions that make a real-world impact.
About the Training and Education Fund
The Training and Education Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality and care of services in the healthcare industry. The Fund supports healthcare workers in achieving their career and personal development goals and helps employers build a stable, highly trained workforce to meet the needs of all Pennsylvanians.