Burlington, VT –  University of Vermont Medical Center proudly announces the graduation of the first sponsored cohort of Registered Nurses (RNs) from its innovative internal Nursing Pathway Program. 

These graduates, who began their journeys as Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs) at UVM Medical Center, earned their academic credentials in May 2025 and are now licensed as RNs and Practical Nurses (LPNs), marking a significant milestone in Vermont’s healthcare workforce development. The graduating cohort includes seven RNs and eight LPNs. 

This pipeline program is a strategic response to Vermont’s nursing shortage and University of Vermont Health Network’s commitment to strengthening internal career pathways. By investing in existing staff, UVM Medical Center reduces reliance on expensive traveling nurses and fosters a local, stable, community-connected nursing workforce. 

"This milestone represents real progress in how we grow our nursing workforce,” said Peg Gagne, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at UVM Medical Center. “Nursing is not just a job, it’s a calling. Graduates are entering one of the most trusted professions in a complex and evolving environment. It’s important that we continue to move the practice of nursing forward through innovation, engagement and education. We are proud to welcome these graduates into the nursing profession.” 

Pathway participants remain employed throughout their educational journey, gaining on-the-job experience while receiving academic and clinical training. Delivered in partnership with the Vermont Talent Pipeline, Vermont Student Assistance Corp., Community College of Vermont and Vermont State University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the program enables employees to advance from LNA to LPN, and ultimately to RN, with full-time pay and benefits and without out-of-pocket expenses for education. 

UVM Medical Center provides wraparound support, including educational release time, socio-economic services, clinical education and a unique method to finance nursing tuition, fees, books and licensing exams. 

“I’d like to thank UVM Medical Center for this opportunity,” said Xi Chen, a newly licensed LPN graduate. “Without the support of the hospital and my managers, I would not have been able to earn my PN license.” 

This inaugural cohort represents the pilot phase of a statewide initiative involving multiple Vermont healthcare employers who are part of the Vermont Talent Pipeline’s Healthcare Collaborative. Today, 11 Vermont healthcare providers are implementing shared strategies and best practices to scale this employer-sponsored training model. 

The Healthcare Collaborative is chaired by Betsy Hassan, DNP, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, director of nursing education and professional development at UVM Medical Center, who runs this pilot program, and helps facilitate collective impact with healthcare peers, in partnership with the Vermont Talent Pipeline. 

The licensure of employer-sponsored RNs demonstrates the power of collaboration across healthcare, education and workforce development. It also reinforces a shared goal of building a home-grown, resilient, high-quality nursing workforce ready to meet the needs of Vermonters into the future. 

Congratulations to the graduates: 

Associates Degree in Nursing (RN) – Katha Bolduc, Jennifer Valyou-Hopkins, Peter Katz, Kayla Gonyo, Ethan Shannon, Rory McLaren and Rochelle McDonald. 

Practical Nursing Certificate (LPN) – Reiko Maeda, Xi Chen, Rebecca Jager, Avery MacGillivray, Devin Kingsbury, Jineefer Paquette, Jen Granfield, Alfred Wathugi. 

For More Information Contact: 

Mary Anne Sheahan: maryanne [at] vtroundtable.org (maryanne[at]vtroundtable[dot]org) 

Abby Stevens: abby [at] vtroundtable.org (abby[at]vtroundtable[dot]org) 

Vermont Talent Pipeline, VBR Research and Education Foundation