UNF-DSC Palm Coast Partnership

Daytona State College and the University of North Florida Enter Historic Partnership for Healthcare Training
College will participate in new medical nexus in Palm Coast

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (Oct. 8, 2020) – Daytona State College and the University of North Florida have entered into an agreement as part of UNF’s new MedNex initiative that will support efforts to supply the region with highly trained healthcare professionals through a university hub planned for Palm Coast. The initiative creates the first university-based, comprehensive medical nexus in the United States and is expected to transform the landscape for medical training in northeast Florida. 

The training hub is designed to consolidate healthcare disciplines, technology development, research and analytics at a location convenient to students from Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam counties. MedNex will support state higher education priorities such as retention of healthcare graduates, partnerships with Florida colleges, and pathways that begin in high school through graduate programs. Professionals trained at the MedNex hub would then spread out into hospitals, clinics and other facilities throughout the region at a time when there is expected to be a critical need for new practitioners. 

“This collaboration between our two institutions will help develop new educational opportunities for students seeking to enter the healthcare field, while providing enormous long-term benefits for our community,” said Daytona State President Dr. Tom LoBasso. “It’s exciting to be involved in the earliest stages of this endeavor and to think about where it will lead in the future for Daytona State College and our Flagler/Palm Coast Campus.” 

The agreement was signed Tuesday afternoon at Palm Coast City Hall by Dr. LoBasso and UNF President Dr. David Szymanski. Also in attendance were Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland, State Rep. Paul Renner and State Senator Travis Hutson.

Daytona State has long been a leader in healthcare education in Volusia and Flagler counties with its nationally recognized nursing program, which is annually ranked among the national leaders in both quality and affordability. Students are able to complete the entire Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree in Nursing at DSC’s Flagler/Palm Coast Campus, a short distance from the planned MedNex hub. 

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