Pittsburgh – September 21, 2026 -- Allegheny Health Network (AHN) will pay up to $110,000 toward student loans for nurse anesthesia students who commit to joining the health system as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), under a new national recruitment program launched in partnership with Boston-based fintech Clasp.
AHN structures payments across three years to lock in early-career commitments
Under the program, AHN will pay up to $20,000 toward eligible loans after 12 months of full-time employment, up to $30,000 after 24 months, and up to $60,000 after 36 months, with payments made directly to loan servicers through the Clasp platform. Employees retain every dollar contributed toward principal, with no claw-back provisions if they leave after milestones are met.
Students can apply up to two years before graduation
Eligible nurse anesthesia students within two years of graduation may apply through Clasp, secure an employment commitment from AHN prior to completing their degree, and begin receiving loan repayment once they start full-time work. AHN is Clasp's first collaborator in Pennsylvania, extending the platform's national reach to a broader pool of CRNA candidates beyond Western Pennsylvania.
Shortage of CRNAs is straining operating room capacity nationwide
Hospitals nationwide are competing for a limited pool of CRNAs, advanced practice registered nurses who administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgical procedures. Inadequate CRNA staffing has led to delayed operating room starts, extended turnaround times, and higher burnout among existing clinicians, particularly affecting elective procedure volumes.
"Working with Clasp gives us the opportunity to engage CRNA students earlier in their training, help ease one of the biggest financial barriers of pursuing this career path, and build lasting relationships with clinicians who will be critical to AHN's future workforce," said Stacy Kittridge, VP of Human Resources for Highmark and AHN.
Clasp CEO and Founder Tess Michaels said AHN is investing in nurse anesthesia students before graduation to build a more resilient CRNA workforce for Western Pennsylvania.
AHN operates 16 hospitals and employs roughly 27,000 people across the region
AHN, an integrated health care delivery system serving Western Pennsylvania, operates 16 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and Health + Wellness Pavilions, with approximately 27,000 employees and 3,000 physicians on staff. The loan repayment initiative forms part of AHN's broader workforce strategy targeting talent attraction, retention and pipeline development for hard-to-hire clinical roles.