Mercy College Preparing to Celebrate 100 Years
The Fall 2017 semester is a special time for Mercy College of Ohio with the kickoff of its Centennial Celebration, 75 years as Mercy School of Nursing and 25 years as Mercy College of Ohio.
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1918, the Mercy School of Nursing awarded diplomas to 2,921 graduates during its history. Mercy College was incorporated as a college in 1992 and initially offered an associate degree in nursing. Today Mercy College offers several healthcare programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The college has also grown to over 1,400 students with both land-based and online learners from 26 states.
While today’s graduates don’t face the deadly influenza epidemic that confronted Toledo in 1918, they meet the challenges of constant change and increasing complexity in the American healthcare system. One thing that hasn’t changed from 100 years ago is the demand for quality healthcare professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employ- ment in the healthcare industry is projected to grow by adding 5 million jobs between 2012 and 2022. This accounts for nearly one-third of the total projected increase in jobs.
Mercy College graduates choose from dozens – if not hundreds of unique settings and applications. Their education provides them with confidence to work in any healthcare setting in the country or, if they chose, as many do, their hometowns. Mercy graduates are known for their ability to quickly start solving problems and making decisions for the greater good of those in need. Students in clinical programs graduate as proficient, knowledgeable, and competent professionals. Graduates of non-clinical programs are knowledgeable in the administrative functions of healthcare and are prepared to provide high quality service in a caring manner. Certificate programs at Mercy College prepare students to work in specialized fields upon completion.
The Centennial Celebration will begin with a one-mile walk from Mercy College to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center on Saturday, September 16. The walk will symbolize students’ journeys into healthcare careers and celebrate Mercy College being a part of Mercy Health, Ohio’s largest healthcare provider. Centennial Celebration events will continue through 2018. More information is available at mercycollege.edu/100.