Our Heritage

A Timeline About How We Started

August 1, 2001

The Global Scholarship Alliance (GSA) program was introduced to the nursing community. The Program gave opportunity to Filipino nurses to go to the U.S., earn a Master ’s Degree in Nursing, and work part-time in hospitals as staff nurses. The visas used were Exchange Visitor Visa (J1) and Student Visa (F1). At the end of the program, nurses were required to go back to the Philippines to share their knowledge as clinical instructors and nurse leaders. This program enjoyed the support of nursing leaders in the Philippines, the U.S. Embassy, the Department of Health (DOH) through Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

2001 - The Humble Beginnings

The company was born out of discussion between Todd H. Bol, a social entrepreneur from Minnesota, U.S., and Sister Remy Junio, the Chancellor of St. Paul University System. The discussions centered on the Philippines’ rapid loss of experienced and quality nurses including clinical instructors to developed countries.

While the Philippines had supplied the world with nurses for decades, migration was depleting the country of needed experienced nurses, nurse leaders, and nurse educators. It became clear that the conventional international recruiting model was unsustainable. Todd and Sr. Remy, together with Connie dela Cruz and Nyra Colinares who both previously worked at the Commission on Higher Education, started to work on a sustainable program that would alleviate the Philippine healthcare delivery system.

2001 - A Two Woman-Team

When the Company started its operations, the marketing, recruiting, and processing were all done by Connie and Nyra themselves. Fuelled with a big dream, with only a cell phone and a luggage, they conducted information sessions, talked to nursing leaders and educators, and scouted for potential nurse scholars all over the country, from Tuguegarao to Zamboanga City.

May 13, 2002

The Company was officially registered to SEC under the name of Global Scholarship Alliance Philippines, Inc. and established its first office with a size of 72sqm in Taipan Place, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Representatives from U.S. schools and hospitals started to come to the Philippines to conduct face-to-face interviews with potential scholars. From 2001 to 2003, around 200 nurses were deployed to the U.S.

2002 - The Growth

Gradually but effectively, expansion was achieved in terms of staff, location, and operations. Since then, the core objective of the Company has been to help RNs, PTs, OTs, and MTs achieve their #AmericanDream. Amidst the many challenges of the business, like the changing government regulations and U.S immigration climate, and retrogressions, it has stood the test of time, owing it to the unwavering support and trust of Bill DeVille, Lair Kennedy and Ty Nelson, founders of Health Carousel, LLC.

From a cell phone and a luggage to the current 2000-sqm office manned by more than 50 staff, the journey continues. The existence of the Company for almost two decades now is a testament that hard work, agility, and a penchant to help is a formula for growth.

2006 – A Restart

The experience of bringing about change in the lives of nurses through scholarship was quite rewarding. However, due to the changing landscape of healthcare recruitment in the U.S. and the low return rate of scholars, the Company underwent a major restructuring in 2006. The Company rolled out a program that offers pure employment opportunity to Filipino Registered Nurses (RNs), Physical Therapists (PTs), Medical Technologists (MTs), and Occupational Therapists (OTs) using EB-3 and H1B Visas.

The Company signed an exclusive contract with Health Carousel, LLC (HCLLC) to serve as its primary recruitment agency in the Philippines for HCLLC’s PassportUSA Program. And to further strengthen the partnership, the Company changed its name to Health Carousel Philippines, Inc. (HCPI).

It was also in 2006 that the Company applied for POEA license.

What’s In-Store for the Future

“We want to become the Philippines’ most trusted recruitment firm for Filipino healthcare professionals for U.S. market. We would like that our Company be the go-to not only of healthcare professionals but also of schools and hospitals. And who knows? We may also open new markets in the future,” said HCPI President Connie dela Cruz.
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With its living legacy of being an agency that gives high regard to its employees, candidates, and partners, Health Carousel Philippines, Inc. is no doubt a trailblazer in the recruitment industry.