Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is launching a national recruiting campaign that will repay up to $110,000 in student loans for nurse anesthesia students who agree to work for the system full time after graduation, the health system that serves the greater Western Pennsylvania region announced Monday.
The program is aimed at easing regional and national shortages of certified registered nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs.
Through a partnership with Boston-based Clasp, a venture-backed fintech company, AHN will pay up to $20,000 toward a student’s eligible loans after 12 months of employment, up to $30,000 after 24 months and up to $60,000 after 36 months. Students within two years of graduation can apply, though selection is not guaranteed and is determined by AHN.
AHN is Clasp’s first Pennsylvania employer partner.
Students apply through Clasp’s platform, which matches them with participating health systems that need nurse anesthetists, such as AHN. Those who are selected agree to a multi-year employment term with AHN in exchange for a commitment to repay their loans. Once they start full time, AHN sends payments directly to the federal or private loan servicer through Clasp. Officials said employees keep everything AHN contributes toward their principal balance, with no claw-backs.
“Working with Clasp gives us the opportunity to engage CRNA students earlier in their training, help ease one of the biggest financial barriers of pursuing this career path, and build lasting relationships with clinicians who will be critical to AHN’s future workforce,” Stacy Kittridge, AHN and Highmark human resources vice president, said.
The launch comes as healthcare organizations nationwide continue to face significant shortages of CRNAs, with hospitals competing aggressively for a limited pool of professionals. By investing in future CRNAs before they enter the workforce, AHN said it is taking a proactive approach to building a strong talent pipeline while helping nurse anesthesia students transition from school into high-impact clinical careers.