Clasp and Confluent Health Launch First-of-its-Kind Student Loan Repayment Program to Attract Next Generation of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Professionals
Boston, Mass. (Sept. 9, 2025) — Clasp, a platform connecting education and employment through retention-driven recruitment, today announced the launch of the Loan Incentive for Therapists (LIFT)Program in partnership with Confluent Health, a national leader in musculoskeletal (MSK) care. This groundbreaking student loan repayment initiative is designed to attract top physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech-language pathology (SLP) talent and address the growing national workforce shortage.
The LIFT Program provides student loan repayment support for eligible PTs, OTs and SLPs who begin their careers with Confluent Health partner organizations. Qualified clinicians, as well as students up to two years before graduation, can receive upfront commitments for loan repayment. Payments begin immediately upon hire and are distributed across the clinician’s first three years of employment.
Student debt for rehabilitative therapy graduates often exceeds $100,000, creating one of the largest barriers to entering and staying in the profession. At the same time, demand for PTs, OTs and SLPs is projected to grow sharply over the next decade, putting access to care at risk for millions of patients.
“This is more than a loan repayment program—it’s a blueprint for how healthcare organizations can compete for talent in today’s market,” said Tess Michaels, Founder and CEO of Clasp. “Confluent Health is proving that even in tight labor markets, clinics can build loyalty and fill critical roles by investing in people early. By addressing student debt head on, they’re not only empowering therapists to thrive in their careers, but they’re also creating a replicable model for the future of clinical workforce recruitment and retention.”
“Confluent Health is committed to removing barriers for clinicians, enabling us to meet the growing demand for high-quality MSK care,” said Dr. Kristi Henderson, CEO of Confluent Health. “The LIFT Program is a bold investment in our workforce, ensuring our patients and communities have access to exceptional care while empowering new therapists to thrive without the weight of student debt.”
The program will first launch in Kansas, Missouri, New York, Arizona, Florida, California and Montana—states where Confluent Health clinics face the greatest talent need.
The LIFT Program builds on Confluent’s broader workforce investments, including the recently announced Confluent Health Scholars Program, also in partnership with Clasp, which provides up to $129,000 in tuition sponsorship and loan repayment for existing employees pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD).
Together, these programs represent an innovative approach to recruiting, training and retaining the next generation of therapy professionals while ensuring long-term patient access to high-quality MSK care nationwide.
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About Clasp
Clasp is a first-of-its-kind platform connecting education and employment through retention-driven recruitment. By enabling healthcare systems to sponsor loan repayment tied to early job commitments, Clasp addresses two major challenges: student debt and the clinical talent shortage. Learn more at clasp.com.
About Confluent Health
Confluent Health, a nationwide network of physical and occupational therapy companies, is at the forefront of advancing musculoskeletal solutions that make us all stronger. We deliver better patient outcomes, reduce costs of care, improve workplace wellness, provide best-in-class education services, help prevent injuries and play a crucial role in shaping industry best practices. For more information, visit confluenthealth.com or find us on LinkedIn.