UnityPoint Health-Meriter was incredibly excited to announce the Jeff Levy Education Center, which will serve as hub for many critical health care training and continuing education programs.  

The country is facing a mounting health care worker shortage and Meriter recognizes the important role we, as a community health care system, can play in helping to address this problem in our region.  

Meriter seeks to implement solutions designed to address this issue. The Jeff Levy Education Center is important to this work, providing space for Meriter’s critical nursing education program; Pathways programs (educational programming and practical training offered through Meriter that will add individuals to clinical roles; community education; and more.  

“We absolutely must provide the same standard of care, but I fear that if the shortage grows, the vacancies will exponentially increase because the staff who are still here will be asked to do more with less help,” said Renee Bukovich, manager of nursing education at UnityPoint Health – Meriter. 

The Jeff Levy Education Center will also house many aspects of Meriter’s new team member on-boarding processes and continuing education and training for current team members.  

The Jeff Levy Education Center was made possible thanks, in large part, to generous lead gift by community member, Jeff Levy and the dedicated work of the Meriter Foundation. 

The goals of the Jeff Levy Education Center include: 
 

• Diversify our health care workforce.  
• Accelerate getting new care team members to the patient bedside.  
• Expand the talent pool, commensurate with increasing patient volumes. 
• Advance team members through career support and growth opportunities.