Northern Marianas College has secured a new $2.3 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to modernize and expand its nursing program.
Over the next 36 months, the funding will help NMC shift to a concept‑based curriculum, build a high‑tech simulation lab with advanced mannequins, and support allied health training, including hemodialysis technician and community health worker certificates.
College officials say the investment will significantly strengthen the CNMI’s healthcare workforce pipeline and move the program closer to eventually offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust says its vision is for CNMI residents to access high‑quality healthcare without leaving home — supported by a locally trained workforce and modern medical infrastructure.
Helmsley trustee Walter Panzirer said the goal is simple: keep care close to home.
“I’m a firm believer to keep care local and to emphasize care is local, and that your zip code should not determine your healthcare outcomes,” Panzirer said. “People heal when they’re close to their support network, when they’re close to their family, their friends, their loved ones… anytime we’re able to create a program to keep healthcare local, to help people stay home… it’s better for the individual, because they’re surrounded by all their loved ones.”
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is one of the largest private foundations in the United States, investing in healthcare access, medical research, rural health, and community resilience. Its Rural Healthcare Program focuses on strengthening medical services in underserved regions, including the Pacific, by funding modern equipment, training, and infrastructure to improve patient outcomes.
