The opening of a new campus always signals the start of an exciting journey — but in Savannah, Georgia, it’s especially meaningful as a mother and son take on nursing school side by side.

Tabatha Millard and her son, Seth Millard, are both enrolled in Galen’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. At the same time, both are also working part time as Patient Care Technicians at Memorial Health University Medical Center, an HCA Healthcare facility in Savannah.

For the Millards, becoming a registered nurse wasn’t just a career goal, it was a shared dream rooted in helping others. Beyond their family connection, Tabatha and Seth are united by a calling to provide compassionate care and support patients during some of their most difficult moments.

Tabatha Millard had previously considered a career in nursing, but life had other plans. After many years working in Human Resources, she decided to give patient care another chance.

“My husband, he always told me, ‘You made honor roll, you can do this,’” Tabatha said of her decision to return to school. “My husband and Seth were a big encouragement to me.”

Around that same time, the idea of caring for others resonated with Seth — and nursing offered a way to do that.

“I was always told that I have a really calming personality,” Seth said. “The way I talk to people, I’m able to bring people down to a way that they can both be at ease and understand what’s going on.”

While still in high school in Florida, Seth began taking dual credit courses toward a nursing degree alongside his mother. After moving to Savannah, he also volunteered at a hospital to gain firsthand exposure to patient care.

“And after he was done, he said, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Tabatha said.

While working as PCTs with Memorial Health, Tabatha and Seth were both looking for ways to advance their careers. When Galen announced it was coming to the Savannah area, the opportunity immediately appealed to the Millards.

They followed the campus construction closely and checked the Galen Savannah website almost daily to see when applications would open. When they finally did, Tabatha didn’t hesitate.

“As soon as I saw the link, I clicked on it,” she said. “I contacted Seth. I said, ‘It’s up!’ And he knew exactly what that was for us.”

Beginning their coursework in September 2025, both also attended Galen’s Grand Opening event in December 2025, and haven’t stopped sharing their excitement since.

“What we’ve experienced with Galen already, it’s a total difference,” Tabatha said. “At another school, you’re handed a syllabus, you have your book, and you’re told, ‘good luck’. Comparing that to being at Galen, if you need something, y’all provide all the information, you provide videos, you provide tutors. You want your students to succeed, and HCA also wants you to grow as an employee.”

Throughout their nursing journey, Tabatha and Seth have learned one important thing; They have different learning styles.

“We’ve done a lot of it together, and we’ve had different classes apart,” Tabatha said. “I’m a visual learner, and he can hear it, understand it, and go off and do something else.”

Their learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Now that colleagues on their units know they’re in nursing school, both have been invited to observe more advanced nursing tasks. Seth has watched nurses complete blood transfusions, while Tabatha has gained exposure to wound care, experiences that have helped them envision where they may work after graduating.

Their enthusiasm has also spread throughout Memorial Health. Tabatha estimates she’s helped five HCA Healthcare colleagues enroll at Galen, while Seth is often recognized at work thanks to a photo of him from Galen’s Grand Opening event featured on the Galen Savannah website.

“We joke that we’re unofficial spokespeople,” Seth said.

Reflecting on the opportunity, Tabatha added, “For us, Galen has been a true blessing, and we were very fortunate to get into the first cohort.”

Just like Tabatha and Seth, you too can level up your career at Galen. Galen offers three comprehensive degree programs that will prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam: Our ADN-bridge program for those already with a licensed practical/vocational nursing diploma, our standard ADN program, and our 3-year bachelor of science in nursing degree. Get started today with Galen!