(September 20, 2024)—Today in Richmond, Claude Moore hosted its annual Claude Moore Scholars Healthcare Workforce Summit, bringing together dozens of stakeholders from around the state representing educational institutions, government, the private sector, and workforce development entities to collaborate on innovative solutions to Virginia’s healthcare workforce shortage.
Panel discussions addressed topics including the latest data on Virginia’s healthcare workforce shortage, development of career pathways, regional collaboration, employer engagement, and ways to measure the success and effectiveness of programs.
“We know, and the data bears it out, that Virginia has a current and looming healthcare workforce shortage. It’s quickly becoming a crisis, but we can turn it around if we take action right now to train the next generation of healthcare workers,” said Dr. Bill Hazel, CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities and former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources. “Our work, and this summit, are about building as many on-ramps into healthcare careers as possible. That means getting young people excited about careers in healthcare. That means making sure high school and community college students get the skills and credentials that employers in their community actually need. And it means creating opportunities for mid-career workers to enter the healthcare field. If we work to grow the pool of trained workers, we can create family-sustaining careers, take care of our citizens, and help bring down the cost of healthcare in Virginia.”
“When Loudoun families told us that healthcare and medical careers were their number one career pathway, we knew we had to help LCPS expand its capacity to provide those opportunities,” said Danielle Nadler, executive director of the Loudoun Education Foundation. “The new Health and Medical Science Academy (HAMSci), which was established with support from Claude Moore, will allow an additional 600 students, many from traditionally underserved communities, to pursue a whole range of healthcare careers from technicians and professional support positions all the way up to future nurses and doctors. That means more opportunities for young people to pursue well-paying careers, and more well-trained healthcare professionals to meet the needs of our community.”
“Like many regions in Virginia, Southwest Virginia needs a larger pool of healthcare professionals to meet the needs of our communities,” said William Austin, Director of Career and Technical Education and Principal of Wise County Career and Technical Center. “We have partnered with Claude Moore to give our young students more exposure to healthcare careers and to eliminate any barriers to success that a student of their family may face. Healthcare careers allow young people to pursue meaningful and well-paying careers here in their home community, while also improving the health of our region.”
“It’s tough for kids to dream about a career they may not know exists. Our work at Shenandoah County Public Schools along with Claude Moore, our healthcare partners, and other stakeholders is opening doors of opportunity for so many young people in our community, especially students from traditionally underserved populations like first-generation students,” said Todd Lynn, SCPS Director of Career and Technical Education. “Our kids are getting the training and education they need to pursue incredible careers in health science, and I know they’re going to change the world.”
Attendees at today’s summit are recipients of grant funding through the Claude Moore Scholars program, including:
According to a comprehensive 2023 study for the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, 102 of Virginia’s 133 localities are federally designated “Health Professional Shortage Areas” and 93 localities are “Mental Healthcare Professional Shortage Areas,” meaning about 30% of Virginians live in a community without a sufficient number of primary and behavioral healthcare providers.
The George Mason University Center for Health Workforce has similarly identified current and future workforce shortages in critical positions, including:
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About Claude Moore Opportunities
Launched in 2024, Claude Moore Opportunities is a new 501(c)3 public nonprofit organization that will raise and distribute philanthropic funds to support regional and collaborative efforts to expand Virginia’s healthcare workforce and create family-sustaining career opportunities. The independent organization is led by CEO Dr. Bill Hazel, Jr., former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources under Governors Bob McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe, and governed by an executive board of notable civic, philanthropic, and healthcare leaders from around Virginia. Claude Moore Opportunities will build on the 20 years of healthcare workforce development efforts by the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, which has invested more than $24 million to enable thousands of Virginians to receive healthcare workforce training and credentials through strategic partnerships with public school systems around the state, the Virginia Community College System, George Mason University, INOVA Health System, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers, among others.