Alva Review-Courier -

The business partnership between Northwestern Oklahoma State University and two of northern Oklahoma's premier health care facilities, AllianceHealth Woodward and AllianceHealth Ponca City, were celebrated recently at a statewide event.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education presented Northwestern and AllianceHealth its Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award, which is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses and to further cultivate the higher learning environment.

"We are honored that our partnerships with AllianceHealth facilities in Woodward and Ponca City were recognized by the State Regents," said Dr. Janet Cunningham, president of Northwestern. "We have a shared commitment and vision to improve access to quality health care by preparing the next generation of highly-skilled and well-trained nurses."

AllianceHealth Woodward and AllianceHealth Ponca City have long supported Northwestern's Division of Nursing by providing funding that allows for Northwestern to place full-time nursing faculty at its branch location in Woodward and at the University Center of Ponca City.

In addition to supporting faculty positions, both entities provide clinical opportunities for nursing students and provide valuable expertise to the division by providing representatives to serve on advisory boards. This continuing partnership between Northwestern and the AllianceHeath facilities is improving health care in northern and northwestern Oklahoma.

AllianceHealth's statewide network of eight hospitals offers Oklahoma access to shared clinical expertise, coordination of care and additional improved access to specialty care locally.

Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses; internships that enable current students to work at the partnering businesses; faculty externships with the partnering businesses; and/or enhancement of the partnerships with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.

"Our colleges and universities are working side by side with leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors," said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. "These collaborations between business and industry and our state system institutions ensure that we continue building the skilled workforce needed for Oklahoma to be globally competitive."