ST. LOUIS, MO. — November 13, 2023 – SSM Health is enhancing its Professional Development Program, which empowers team members to pursue education and career advancement, with a new program that offers upfront tuition to employees.

The new initiative, FlexPath Funded, will offer eligible team members up to $5,250 per calendar year in up-front tuition towards an array of online programs and courses from top-tier academic institutions.

It aligns with SSM Health’s commitment to develop a diverse team of lifelong learners and fosters a culture of opportunity – where everyone has the potential to fulfill their calling at SSM Health.

By removing the financial barrier to academic achievement by prepaying for tuition, the program provides easier access to learning opportunities that empower the organization’s diverse team of lifelong learners to deliver exceptional health care, today and in the future.

“At SSM Health, we are passionate about offering flexible, alternative education paths for team members without having them incur upfront, out-of-pocket expenses,” said Janet Smith-Hill, Chief Human Resources Officer at SSM Health. “FlexPath Funded achieves just that, while also focusing on increasing talent retention and preparing our workforce for high-requested roles to meet patient care needs. This is just one of the components of our robust professional and career development programming at SSM Health.”

FlexPath Funded complements SSM’s existing Tuition Reimbursement Policy and is a powerful way for SSM Health team members to pursue accessible online education opportunities that advance their careers.

SSM Health also has a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The new program is designed to create equal access to education opportunities that increase representation at all levels and provide mobility pathways, enabling front-line employees to elevate their lives and careers.

SSM Health has partnered with InStride, a tech-enabled services company that delivers workforce education solutions, to launch FlexPath Funded based on a commitment to a shared partnership approach and a demonstrated understanding of the relationship between DEI and workforce education.

"SSM Health and InStride are mission-first organizations that share a vision for social and business outcomes,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “SSM Health is an employer of choice and we are honored to deliver a workforce education program where every SSM team member has the opportunity to reach their full potential through equitable access to learning.”

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About SSM Health

SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s 40,000 team members and more than 12,800 providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve.

With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 12 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About InStride

InStride, in collaboration with top academic institutions, enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. InStride empowers forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners to innovate their human capital management strategies. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.