Miami Dade College and VITAS team
By Daniel Casciato
For Miami Dade College (MDC) nursing students Khadijah Norelus and Shanel Cantave, the decision to pursue nursing came from deeply personal experiences. Shanel was inspired after nearly losing her father to a hemorrhagic stroke. Khadijah’s calling was born when she witnessed the care and compassion a hospice nurse gave her cousin in his final moments.
Today, both women are VITAS Scholars—recipients of the Miami Dade College LPN Scholarship supported by hospice provider VITAS Healthcare—and represent the next generation of caregivers preparing to serve South Florida’s communities amid a national nursing shortage.
Their journeys, rooted in empathy and personal purpose, reflect the very essence of what VITAS seeks to cultivate through its partnership with MDC: a channel of nurses who see healthcare as both a science and a calling.
A Partnership Nearly 50 Years in the Making
The relationship between VITAS Healthcare and MDC is one built on mutual values and a deep commitment to compassionate care.
“VITAS Healthcare’s partnership with Miami Dade College dates back almost 50 years, rooted in a shared commitment to advancing patient care and healthcare education in our community,” says Ava Padmore-Lewis, Chief Human Resources Officer at VITAS Healthcare.
That connection began when Esther Colliflower, a nurse, and Hugh Westbrook, a minister, met at MDC as faculty members and began teaching a course together on the topic of death. By 1978, the two founded the hospice which would become known as VITAS Healthcare. Over the years, the partnership has grown through clinical training opportunities, workforce development initiatives, and this nursing scholarship—all designed to inspire and support the next generation of caregivers in hospice and palliative care.
As MDC celebrates its 65th anniversary, the collaboration feels especially meaningful.
“For 65 years, Miami Dade College has served as a cornerstone of healthcare education in South Florida,” Padmore-Lewis says. “For VITAS, MDC represents a trusted partner in advancing our mission to provide compassionate end-of-life care to underserved and underrepresented communities.”
Breaking Barriers Through Education and Opportunity
At the heart of the VITAS Scholars program is a simple but powerful idea: remove barriers to education so aspiring nurses can focus on what matters most: learning, caring, and growing.
(l-r) Shanel Cantave, Ava Padmore-Lewis, Khadijah Norelus
“At VITAS, we recognize that nurses are the heart of compassionate care, and that access to education is key to ensuring a strong and diverse healthcare workforce,” says Padmore-Lewis. The LPN Scholarship helps eliminate financial obstacles for students like Khadijah and Shanel while connecting them to meaningful career opportunities in hospice and end-of-life care.
Beyond financial assistance, VITAS enriches the learning experience by connecting its medical directors with nursing students each semester for a speaker series on hospice care. These sessions introduce future nurses to the fundamentals of palliative medicine and the essential role of empathy in the patient experience.
“Through this speaker series and the scholarship, we aim to inspire students to see hospice nursing not just as a profession but as a calling that blends skill, empathy, and purpose,” Padmore-Lewis says.
Building a Stronger Nursing Workforce
The United States is facing one of the most significant nursing shortages in its history. Florida, in particular, continues to feel the strain as the state’s aging population grows and demand for home-based care rises. VITAS is responding by making a strong commitment to workforce development, education, and partnerships designed to strengthen the nursing pipeline.
“VITAS is investing in education, training, and partnerships that create real pathways to meaningful careers in hospice and palliative care,” Padmore-Lewis explains.
The organization offers mentorship programs, clinical rotations, and tuition reimbursement to encourage professional advancement. “Our retention strategy is focused on fostering a team where nurses feel supported, valued, and empowered to deliver exceptional care,” she adds.
VITAS currently employs more than 5,000 nurses across 15 states and the District of Columbia, with over 3,000 based in Florida. Many began their careers through partnerships like the one with Miami Dade College, providing care to patients in homes, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and inpatient units.
The Heart of Compassionate Care
For Padmore-Lewis, stories like Khadijah’s and Shanel’s personify the values that have guided VITAS since its founding in Miami in 1978.
“Khadijah and Shanel embody the compassion, resilience, and purpose that define hospice care,” she says. “Their journeys mirror the kind of caregivers VITAS seeks to nurture: individuals who see nursing as a vocation centered on dignity, comfort, and human connection.”
Through the VITAS Scholars program, these students aren’t just gaining financial support—they’re becoming part of a legacy of care that has shaped Miami’s healthcare community for nearly half a century.
Miami Dade College: A Foundation for the Future
Padmore-Lewis emphasizes that MDC and its Benjamin Leon School of Nursing are critical to ensuring that South Florida’s healthcare workforce remains strong and diverse.
“Miami Dade College has long been recognized as one of the most respected nursing schools in Florida,” she says. “The Benjamin Leon School of Nursing shares our belief that education and empathy go hand in hand.”
The college’s commitment to academic excellence and cultural diversity aligns closely with the VITAS mission to care for all patients and families with compassion, regardless of background or circumstance. Together, the two institutions are “building a bridge from classroom to career,” ensuring that the region’s future nurses are prepared to meet the needs of an aging population and a rapidly evolving healthcare system.
Looking Ahead
As the healthcare industry continues to change, VITAS is expanding its efforts to develop culturally competent, patient-centered caregivers.
“We are continuing to explore ways to deepen our investment in workforce development, particularly through approaches that champion culturally competent healthcare and access for all,” says Padmore-Lewis.
The company plans to broaden its mentorship and clinical partnerships, extend scholarship opportunities, and strengthen continuing education support. “Our goal is to ensure that the next generation of nurses reflects the communities we serve and is fully equipped to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care across every stage of life,” she adds.
Nearly five decades after their first collaboration, VITAS Healthcare and Miami Dade College continue to embody the spirit of service that defines Miami’s healthcare community. From classrooms to patient bedsides, their shared commitment to education, compassion, and opportunity ensures that the next generation of caregivers—students like Khadijah Norelus and Shanel Cantave—will be ready to carry forward the legacy of care that began right here in South Florida.
For more information, call (800) 938-4827 or go to VITAS.com.
