PHOENIX, AZ & LOS ANGELES, CA — October 28, 2021 — InStride has partnered with Banner Health, one of the country’s largest nonprofit health care systems, to launch the Banner Education Achievement Program, a strategic workforce education initiative to help its nursing staff develop new skills and grow in their careers.

Through this program, Banner Health will cover full tuition costs for qualified registered nurses (RNs) to earn an online Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) through Arizona State University. Studies have shown that higher levels of nursing education are linked with better patient outcomes. By helping their RNs gain access to more education, Banner Health is improving the care offered to all their customers.

Vivek Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder of InStride, adds, “Banner Health has made a strategic and sound investment in their business by investing in their people. Strategic workforce education is key to ensuring that health care providers have skilled employees on the front lines, that those employees are engaged and motivated, and that both the health care provider and its employees are prepared for whatever the future brings.”

InStride and Banner Health will expand their partnership in the future as they work to make this program available to more Banner employees.

“At Banner, people are at the heart of health care. We take great pride in providing the best care possible for our patients, and the best way we know to do that is by taking great care of our people,” said Naomi Cramer, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Banner Health. “We pride ourselves on encouraging a learner’s mindset. And when our nurses obtain additional education, it benefits every person they connect with including those outside our walls – their families and our communities. We’re proud to be delivering such an impactful offering for our employees in partnership with InStride.”

Arizona State University has been ranked #1 in the nation for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years. ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation offers rigorous courses taught by respected practitioners and instructors. Through its online RN to BSN program, ASU helps students expand their career opportunities on their schedule, with courses offered entirely online whenever students are available.

About Banner Health
Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.

About InStride
As the premier global provider of strategic enterprise education™ programs, InStride enables employers to provide career-boosting degrees and credentials to their employees, through leading global academic institutions across the U.S., Mexico, Europe and Australia. InStride helps organizations achieve transformative business and social impact by unlocking the power of education, through advanced technology-enabled experiences for learners and corporate partners alike. Given its focus on generating social impact, InStride received Fortune’s Impact 20 and Inc.'s Best in Business awards in 2020. For more information, please visit www.instride.com or follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Banner Health
media@bannerhealth.com

InStride
John James Nicoletti
310-954-1578
john.nicoletti@instride.com