Bergen New Bridge Partners with Clasp to Address Workforce Challenges

Clasp makes monthly payments on student loan debt as part of a recruitment and retention program

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has partnered with Clasp, a recruitment platform for healthcare providers, becoming the first hospital in New Jersey to innovate its recruitment and retention efforts through a new kind of student loan repayment program.

“This innovative approach allows us to expand our candidate pool while developing healthcare professionals as we continue to provide high-quality care for our patients and change the trajectory for students entering the workforce,” said Deborah Visconi, President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “This partnership forges a new industry standard benefiting healthcare facilities and employees while addressing long term workforce challenges.”

Clasp’s retention-driven recruitment platform addresses talent shortages by helping employers recruit and retain critical talent in hard-to-hire fields, with a focus on reducing student debt and fostering long-term commitments between employers and employees.

Through the program, Bergen New Bridge is offering qualified and selected nursing students up to $25,000 in student loan repayment over their first three years of employment. Nursing students apply while in school, and if accepted, complete their studies knowing they have both a career and a plan for their loans waiting for them after graduation.

To qualify for the program, applicants must:

• Graduate in 2025, 2026, or 2027
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Attend a Title IV accredited four-year college or university
• Be within 24 months of graduation
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.9
• Be employed full-time by Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

“Bergen New Bridge is redefining what it means for a safety net hospital to invest in its workforce,” said Tess Michaels, Founder & CEO of Clasp. “At a time when federal loan cuts are leaving students with fewer options and more debt, this hospital became the first in New Jersey to launch a program like this — and saw overwhelming demand, with three times more applicants than available seats in just four months, spanning seven states. That response prompted Bergen New Bridge to expand seats, proving how powerfully this approach can stretch every dollar to recruit and retain great clinicians.”

By leading with this type of program, Bergen New Bridge is proving that mission‑driven safety net hospitals can set a new standard for building sustainable pipelines and long‑term career opportunities in healthcare.

Interested candidates should apply through Clasp’s platform which takes under five minutes. Once hired, monthly payments begin immediately to help offset student loans.

To apply, visit clasp.com/bergennewbridge.