HCA Healthcare employee pursues career as nurse at Galen Gainesville

Longtime HCA Healthcare employee Leslie Frazier knew exactly where to go when she decided to pursue a nursing degree: Galen College of Nursing.

She enrolled in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Galen’s Gainesville campus in July 2025 as she looks to follow in her mother Candie Davis-Richardson’s footsteps in becoming a nurse. Frazier has worked for HCA Florida Capital Hospital since 2018, currently serving as the Unit Secretary for the Medical Oncology Unit. She previously worked as a Patient Care Technician before moving into her current role.

“Since [Galen] is a part of HCA Healthcare, I am loyal to HCA Healthcare,” said Frazier in response to why she chose Galen. “It is an awesome opportunity to retain nurses to HCA Healthcare. I’m rooted in the area so that too made sense.

“In fact, I’m just learning about other nurses who graduated from Galen in the last two months. A traveling nurse came to Capital Hospital, and she said, ‘You go to Galen? I graduated from Galen.’ It made me even more excited because I hadn’t yet met anyone from Galen.”

Frazier, like other HCA Healthcare employees, was able to take advantage of one of the many tuition benefits offered. HCA Healthcare provides up to $5,250 in tax-free tuition assistance each calendar year, which can add up to big savings for employees looking to grow professionally.

Additionally, when Frazier completes her ADN program, she can enroll in Galen’s Online RN to BSN degree, which includes no out-of-pocket tuition costs for HCA Healthcare employees.

“Leslie is a dedicated HCA Florida Capital Hospital employee who is working full time while attending the Galen ADN program,” Susan King, director of medical oncology at HCA Florida Capital Hospital said. “Leslie cheerfully plans her work schedule around the class and clinical experiences, driving from Tallahassee to Gainesville a couple of times each week. Leslie serves as the HCA Florida Capital Hospital representative to the North Florida Division PCT Council while also participating on our Medical Oncology unit councils.

“We are so proud of Leslie and her commitment to her education and to HCA Florida Healthcare.”

In addition to her mother working as a registered nurse, currently at HCA Florida Capital Hospital’s Rehabilitation Center, Frazier was inspired by the way nurses bring compassionate care to their job. When Frazier was younger, who sister suffered a serious health scare and needed to be hospitalized. During that time, the care from the nurses for both Frazier’s sister, Teariney Dixon, and her whole family, stood out to her.

“The compassion they showed my mom and sister, that also impacted my desire to become a nurse,” Frazier said. “They showed my sister and mom the utmost respect, they treated them like family. And we see that on my unit too. We may get catty some time, but the love is always there and we have a great leader. We love on each other and have love for our patients.”

Despite the long drives to-and-from Galen’s Gainesville campus and her home in Havana, Fla., Frazier said she is motivated to provide great, compassionate care to those in need in her community.

“Nothing has interested me more than working in healthcare,” Frazier said “As a kid you say ‘I don’t want to be like my mom, I want to be my own person’, but everything brings me back to healthcare. That is where I thrive, that is my passion, to help people.”

Discover other opportunities in nursing here. If you are an HCA Healthcare employee and interested in taking advantage of the tuition assistance program while looking to become a nurse or level up your skills, head to the Galen College of Nursing website to learn about how we can change the life of one to care for the lives of many.