St. Luke’s University Health Network celebrated the opening of St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences on Monday, May 18.
The College, which operates on the campus of St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem, offers the following programs:
- Radiography (Associate Degree)
- Respiratory Care (Associate Degree)
- RN to BSN (Bachelor’s Degree)
In addition to its degree-granting programs, the College offers various general education courses.
The inaugural student class includes approximately 150 students across all programs and courses with 73 starting during the summer session and the remaining beginning this fall. One of these students is Brianne Swope, who is enrolled in the RN to BSN program and is a graduate of St. Luke’s School of Nursing.
Brianne began her journey as a volunteer before working in a nursing home from 2007 to 2020. While completing her prerequisites for the School of Nursing, she applied for a position with St. Luke’s Mental Health to get her foot in the door. She ultimately completed the School of Nursing program with full tuition reimbursement.
Since graduating, Brianne has continued her career in mental health at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation. She is grateful for the flexibility of the online RN to BSN program, which allows her to pursue her education while working full time. Brianne plans to remain with St. Luke’s after completing the RN to BSN program and hopes to continue working in mental health—a cause especially close to her heart.
Approval to establish St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences was granted in October 2025 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, marking a strategic step that will shape the future of health care education and workforce development in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
“This is a historic milestone for the Lehigh Valley,” said Mary Grace Simcox, EdD, RN, first president of St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences. “The launch of St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences reflects a bold commitment to strengthening our health care workforce by providing an affordable, local pathway to high-demand careers complete with guaranteed clinical placements, hands-on learning, small class sizes and clear opportunities for professional advancement.”
Respiratory Care and Radiography classes will be held at the Priscilla Payne Hurd Education Center, while the RN to BSN program will be offered fully online with a curriculum designed to support adult learners seeking non-traditional college experiences. Students will also have access to simulation and skills labs, study areas and library resources.
St. Luke’s longstanding partnerships with regional colleges and universities will continue while the new College expands the Network’s ability to address workforce shortages in critical health care roles by broadening access to education. Even with these strong partnerships, the need to establish an institution of higher learning is critical, Simcox said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care and social assistance sector is projected to experience the largest job growth of any industry between 2024 and 2034, driven by an aging population and persistent workforce shortages. Meeting this demand requires strong, accessible education pathways that support individuals at every stage of their professional journey.
St. Luke’s has long been a leader in medical education, operating the oldest School of Nursing in the country, providing the only four-year medical school through The Temple St. Luke’s School of Medicine, and offering more than 60 Graduate Medical Education programs to prepare the next generation of physicians and advanced practitioners.
For more information or to apply, visit www.StLukesCollege.org.
