The Capital Healthcare and Employment Council, together with Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, Ingham Regional Medical Center, Sparrow Health System and in partnership with Lansing Community College and Capital Area Michigan Works!, is announcing scholarships to fill 100 jobs at area hospitals.

            Competitive scholarships will place 100 candidates into degree and certification programs at local schools to fill more than a dozen different clinical healthcare positions ranging from Lab Techs to Pharmacists.  Upon completion of the degree programs, which range from six months to the completion of Bachelor's degree and Doctor of Pharmacy programs, successful candidates will be offered full-time employment at the hospital which sponsored their education.  Starting wages for the positions range from $10.50 per hour to $49 per hour, with most positions averaging $20 to $24 per hour.

            Healthcare experience and education are preferred for candidates, but are not required.  Scholarships will be competitive and candidates will have to interview with Capital Area Michigan Works!, Lansing Community College and hospital representatives.

            Half of the positions are Registered Nurse positions, which will require candidates already be accepted into a local nursing program.  Students can be on a waiting list.  Students over the age of 24 and already taking nursing classes may also qualify.

            The hospitals are projected to hire candidates upon successful completion of the program beginning in 2009 and through 2011.  Students will be asked to volunteer at the facilities throughout their education, and may be offered part-time employment while in school.

            Interested candidates must attend an informational session the week of March 9, 2009.  For available dates and times, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than March 2, 2009.

            "These scholarships are a win-win," explains Julianne Rose, executive director of the Capital Healthcare and Employment Council.  "The hospitals get the educated clinical staff they can't find, and local job seekers get to go back to school knowing there's a job at the end of the road.  It's exactly what the area needs right now."

            The Capital Healthcare and Employment Council provides a venue for communication and collaboration among Greater Lansing healthcare organizations, educators and partners to capture the most useful, effective and innovative workforce development tools to support high quality healthcare.  It offers scholarships, on-the-job training grants, best practice sharing, professional development, recruiting solutions, employee training grants and more for healthcare organizations.