Cal State Monterey Bay Partners with Montage Health to Expand Nursing Education

By Melissa Anderson

Cal State Monterey Bay has received a transformative $15 million gift commitment from Montage Health to expand nursing education and address critical healthcare workforce shortages in the tri-county region.

This investment will establish the Montage Health Helen Baszucki School of Nursing within the College of Health Sciences and Human Services (CHSHS) and support the creation of two new programs: a four-year pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

“Montage Health has long been a supporter of our two-year bachelor’s degree in nursing program,” said Cal State Monterey Bay President Vanya Quiñones. “Many of our graduates now work at Montage Health and other regional providers, demonstrating the strength of our existing partnerships. Now, with this transformational gift, we will be able to expand access to essential healthcare careers by establishing our pre-licensure nursing degree and a master's in nursing.”

The gift honors Helen Baszucki, who was passionate about nursing both as a practitioner and clinical instructor. According to a Montage Health biography, she brought diligence, caring, empathy, and kindness as a caregiver until her passing in September 2020. Since 2021, Montage Health's Helen Baszucki Center for Nursing Excellence has accelerated efforts to invest in current and future nurses, and this partnership highlights the growing impact of that work on the community’s health and workforce.

The funding addresses a growing regional need. Monterey County, like much of California and the nation, faces an ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals. An aging population, increased demand for healthcare, and the high cost of living make recruiting nurses from outside the area increasingly difficult. Expanding local education pathways strengthens the pipeline of nurses trained and retained within the community.

The funds will support the development and launch of a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with an initial cohort of 40 students. They will also support more than 100 students currently in a pre-nursing major who are preparing to apply and enter the BSN program as upper-division students. Additionally, the master’s degree program will admit 25 students into its first cohort.

The gift will fund faculty and staff hiring—including tenure-track faculty, clinical lecturers, advisors, and lab coordinators—to ensure student success and strong hospital partnerships. It will also support renovation of a simulation and skills lab and cover accreditation costs for the new programs.

“We’ve always believed that the strongest healthcare workforce is one we grow right here at home,” said Dr. Mike McDermott, President and CEO of Montage Health. “Expanding access to BSN education is part of our mission as a local nonprofit—to invest in our community, open doors to meaningful careers, and ensure people across Monterey County can rely on excellent care for years to come.”

The CSU Board of Trustees formally approved the school’s naming on March 11. Montage Health and Cal State Monterey Bay jointly announced the gift on March 16. A celebration of the gift will be held Thursday, April 9, at Cal State Monterey Bay, with a reception beginning at 10:30 a.m. and a program featuring speakers from the university and Montage Health at 11 a.m. RSVP to attend.