Wichita Students Gain Front-Row Access to HCA Healthcare Leaders

For graduating nursing students, the question isn’t just Where will I work? — it’s What will that first unit really be like?

Students at Galen’s Wichita campus recently had the opportunity to find out firsthand.

HCA Healthcare’s Wesley Medical Center sent a team of unit leaders and representatives to campus for a special visit with the graduating class. Joining Dean Dr. Keisha Brooks and Campus Engagement Specialist (CES) Alexis Carter, the Wesley team created an experience that went far beyond a standard recruitment presentation.

Rather than sending just one speaker, Wesley brought a leader from each of its service lines, along with a residency coordinator and clinical coordinator. Each representative offered a detailed overview of their unit — including patient populations, team dynamics, and what orientation looks like for new graduates entering practice.

Students gained a clearer understanding of what their transition from the classroom to the bedside could look like, hearing directly from the leaders who guide those units every day. The session was highly informative and well received, with students actively engaging throughout the discussion.

“It was incredible to see how engaged our students were,” said Alexis Carter, CES. “It meant so much that Wesley didn’t just send one or two representatives — they brought a leader from every service line. That made a real impact on our students.”

The event was made possible through the collaboration of Christi Leewright, NUR283 instructor, and Jessica Adlehardt, Wichita’s HCA Clinical Education – Academic Partnership representative. Their partnership and commitment to creating meaningful connections between education and practice helped bring this valuable opportunity to life.

Experiences like this allow students to hear directly from healthcare leaders, ask meaningful questions, and gain clarity about what to expect as they transition from the classroom to clinical practice — strengthening the bridge between Galen and its clinical partners and preparing graduates for confident entry into practice.

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