Unitek elects a vice president to focus on growth and help reduce nursing shortages.
Newport Beach, California – Unitek Learning is thrilled to announce a new addition to their leadership team. In June,Rick García, Ph.D., RN, CCM, FAAOHN, FNYAM, FAADN, joined Unitek as the Vice President of Nursing, Regulation, and Program Expansion.
“The addition of Dr. García marks another step forward as we continue to expand our programs, enabling us to partner with boards of nursing, healthcare organizations, and our local communities to help solve nursing workforce shortages,” said Dr. Abdel Yosef, Provost andChief AcademicOfficer at Unitek Learning. “Dr. García will focus on nursing regulatory approvals and expansion initiatives. We are so proud of our outstanding leadership members who are incredibly dedicated, working around the clock to support the talented faculty and staff across all Unitek campuses.”
Dr. García has nearly three decades of active clinical nursing practice across a multitude of administrative and clinical settings. He served as the Director of Nursing Education for theAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing, where he led the collaboration and development of position statements to include: 2022: Pathways to Excellence, 2021 The Essentials, 2019 AACN’s Vision for Academic Nursing, and the 2018 Defining Scholarship for Academic Nursing. He has developed conference and webinar content and initiatives to help nursing faculty transition to competency-based education. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Florida Board of Nursing, focusing on the regulation, licensure, and discipline of nurses and nursing programs.
Dr. García also serves as Chair of the Education Committee and a Registered Nurse Member of the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. In addition, Dr. García’s professional contributions have been recognized by the Florida State Occupational Health Nurses Association (FSAOHN)with the awarding of the accolade of Nurse of the Year in 2016 and an Honorary Lifetime Membership.
“We are so thrilled to welcome Dr. García to Unitek,” said Janis Paulson, Chief Executive Officer at Unitek Learning. “In 2022, it’s crucial that we support workforce development and focus ont he future of the nursing profession. As we continue to grow, adapt, and innovate, we can better serve communities across the United States.”
Unitek Learning is the parent company of several distinguished learning institutions: Unitek College, Unitek EMT, Eagle Gate College, Provo College, and Brookline College. Unitek programs teach the clinical practices and theory used in the field today. Equipped with a multitude of sought-after skills, Unitek graduates are prepared to excel in many of the fastest-growing careers in healthcare and nursing.
