A new collaboration between Villanova University and Catholic Partnership Schools is transforming health care access for students in Camden, New Jersey. The initiative, spearheaded by the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, aims to address significant health care gaps in underserved communities while enhancing nursing education.
The partnership was inspired by a profile in a Spring 2024 issue of Villanova Magazine featuring Jameka Walker, the executive director of Catholic Partnership Schools and a 2023 Opus Prize finalist. After reading the article, Laura Kelly, a recently retired clinical professor of nursing at Villanova, recognized an opportunity to merge the university’s mission of service with urgent community health needs.
Catholic Partnership Schools operates five pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade schools in Camden, where staffing shortages have hindered routine health screenings for students. Many families struggle to secure required physicals for their children, especially those involved in after-school sports, due to the costs and time involved in accessing external providers.
In response, Kelly joined forces with Becky Mueller, a clinical assistant professor and director of Villanova’s Nurse Practitioner programs, to recruit graduate-level nurse practitioner students for hands-on clinical experience. This collaboration aligns with the students’ academic requirements, which include at least 500 hours of practical training before graduation.
Through the partnership, Villanova’s graduate nurse practitioner students visit Camden to conduct health screenings, provide sports physicals at no cost, and deliver classroom lessons focused on health promotion. Walker noted that this collaboration benefits both the Camden students, who gain access to necessary care, and Villanova students, who acquire practical experience reflective of real-world challenges.
Students like Caroline Banas, who participated in two visits during the fall 2025 semester, have reported a broader understanding of pediatric care beyond traditional hospital settings. Sarah Finocchiaro, another participant, shared her personal connection to the initiative, recalling her own difficulties as a single mother in securing sports physicals for her children.
The results have been significant. Over two visits in the fall 2025 semester, Villanova’s nurse practitioner students completed 25 sports physicals, nearly doubling the number performed between the initial and subsequent trips as word spread through the community. According to Walker, without these screenings, those 25 students would not have been able to participate in sports.
Beyond health care, the relationship has extended into broader community service. During the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service in 2024 and 2025, volunteers from Villanova engaged in various projects at all five Catholic Partnership Schools, including painting tricycle tracks, repairing basketball courts, and maintaining community gardens.
Mueller emphasized the importance of service in nursing education, recalling her own experiences volunteering at a free clinic during her time at Villanova. She views the Camden partnership as an opportunity to instill a strong service ethic in the next generation of nurses.
Looking ahead, Villanova and Catholic Partnership Schools are exploring ways to expand their collaboration. Plans include involving psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner students to teach mindfulness and mental health programming for middle school students. This initiative aims to address both physical and emotional well-being during a critical stage of development.
What began as a magazine article has blossomed into a meaningful, mission-driven effort that intertwines education, faith, and community service. For students and families in Camden, the initiative is already making a tangible difference in improving health outcomes.
