Cleveland Clinic Receives $13 Million Gift from the Howley Foundation

On Aug. 13, Cleveland Clinic announced via a press release that it has received a gift of $13 million from the Howley Foundation to expand the Howley ASPIRE Pathways program through 2036.

The gift will allow 380 future students to pursue careers in respiratory therapy, surgical technology and sterile processing.

The press release says that “The Howley ASPIRE Pathways program is designed to remove barriers to in-demand career opportunities in healthcare. It focuses on equipping participating students with the essential skills and experiences necessary to support their transition through higher education and entry into the workforce.”

Further, “Students enter the program as high school juniors and engage in an innovative curriculum that explores careers in respiratory therapy, surgical technology and sterile processing. In their senior year, students concentrate on their chosen field of interest and prepare for the next steps in the program.”

After graduating, students can earn scholarships to attend Cuyahoga Community College for surgical technology or Kent State University for respiratory therapy, where they can complete a two-year degree. Or they can receive on-the-job training and certification in sterile processing directly from Cleveland Clinic.

“Students who attend Cuyahoga Community College or Kent State University work as part-time/PRN caregivers at Cleveland Clinic during the summer after high school graduation and continue this role during their studies,” the release adds. “Upon successful completion of the program, they have the opportunity to return as full-time caregivers at a Cleveland Clinic facility.”

The Howley ASPIRE Pathways program is sponsored by The Howley Foundation in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic and is part of the broader Howley ASPIRE Program that was launched in 2017 with the Howley ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program.