The Center for Interprofessional Education in Healthcare, Normandale Community College’s new Healthcare Education Hub, is transforming how healthcare professionals are trained.
As one of the first community colleges in the nation to adopt this model, Normandale is moving beyond traditional, siloed education to a more collaborative, team-based approach that reflects how healthcare is delivered today.
The Healthcare Education Hub brings together students across disciplines, including nursing, dental hygiene, community health, exercise science, and public health, to learn side by side. Through innovative curriculum, advanced technology, and expanded program capacity, the Hub prepares graduates to provide holistic, culturally responsive care while meeting Minnesota’s urgent workforce needs.
At Normandale, we are not just educating healthcare workers; we are preparing teams to deliver better outcomes for their patients.
Interprofessional healthcare education brings students from multiple disciplines together to learn with, from, and about one another. This approach reflects the reality of modern healthcare, where coordinated teams are essential to improving outcomes, advancing health equity, and supporting workforce resilience.
Through this model, students develop:
• A holistic, patient-centered approach to care• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Cultural responsiveness and equity-focused practices
• Adaptability and resilience for a changing workforce
Employers consistently tell us they need graduates who can work across disciplines. The Healthcare Education Hub is built to deliver exactly that experience.
Minnesota faces a growing shortage of healthcare professionals, and demand continues to rise.
Workforce strain is worsening as burnout drives professionals out of the field. Nearly 75% of former nurses cite stress as a reason for leaving. (Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) Workforce Report)
The Healthcare Education Hub is designed to meet this moment, expanding the number of graduates while preparing students for the realities of team-based, high-demand care. At full capacity, the Hub could graduate up to 435 students annually, nearly doubling Normandale’s current health sciences output.
vacancy rate across healthcare roles
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
vacancy rate for dental hygienists
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
decline in nursing graduates
Minnesota Board of Nursing's Annual Nursing Education Program Report
The Healthcare Education Hub is a state-of-the-art academic center that integrates teaching, simulation, and collaboration into one connected environment.
Located on the second floor of the Normandale Science Building, this newly renovated space brings together all of Normandale’s healthcare programs, creating opportunities for students to learn alongside one another while developing both clinical expertise and teamwork skills.
The Healthcare Education Hub is made possible through the generosity of donors who believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities.
Their investment creates opportunities for students to train with advanced technology, gain hands-on experience, and step into high-demand healthcare roles prepared to make an impact.
Together, we are building a stronger, more equitable healthcare workforce for Minnesota.
“This is where technology, collaboration, and human care meet, sparking students to step into a changing world with skill, heart, and resilience. It’s advanced, team-based training at a two-year college cost, and Normandale is leading the charge.”
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