The Healthcare Fellows met virtually on August 19 to discuss education and workforce development and the role it plays in building the healthcare ecosystem.  The first portion of the program featured a panel discussion with four university partners and explored how they work to develop the future workforce in healthcare. 

Panelists included Joseph A. (“Tony”) Brosky, Jr., PT, DHSc, SCS, Professor and Dean of the School of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Bellarmine University; Sonya Hardin, PhD, MBA, MHA, Dean of the School of Nursing, University of Louisville; Misty Stutz, PharmD, Dean and Professor, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and Kurt Jefferson, PhD, Dean of Graduate Education, Spalding University.

Universities and Economic Development: Universities and other education institutions are an important part of any growing economy.  The panelists discussed how their university or program contributes to economic development activity.

The Changing Population: As workforce needs change and education evolves, the student population may look different than it did in the past.  Panelists shared what a typical student looks like today and how their university is changing to meet their needs.  

Workforce Development: When we talk with healthcare companies, workforce development is always a top concern as they look to grow in the local community.  Panelists shared how they work with the business community to help make sure they are training the next generation of healthcare workers?

Growing the Healthcare Workforce

The second portion of the session covered initiatives in the city to help attract, retain and grow the healthcare workforce.  Christine Tarquinio, VP, Talent, Workforce, & Brand Strategies at Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) discussed the many initiatives that go on behind the scenes as the business community works together to help address this issue.

GLI offers complimentary consulting services to connect employers to programs and strategies needed to fill current openings, improve productivity and attract high level talent from out of the region. Highlights include:

The Career Acceleration Network (CAN):  An initiative that will move workers from low-paying, low-skilled jobs to high-skilled jobs with family-supporting wages. The two-year pilot program is based around a talent pipeline comprised of 15 employers from a range of industries, several educational and training providers, and workforce partners that will work together to train participants and help them advance into sustainable, long-term careers. Current career pathway offerings include business services, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology. Participating employers hail from a variety of industries with open positions that vary in skill-level and requirements. The jobs are divided into tiers that give participants the opportunity to develop new skills in entry-level jobs, advance within the organization, then move to a different organization in a higher-skilled role. In addition, the program will help encourage workforce participation among formerly incarcerated individuals, with several employers offering second chance opportunities.

Participating employers include Baptist Health, Caesar’s Southern Indiana, Galt House Hotel, GE Appliances, a Haier Co., Generation Tux, Glowtouch Technology, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, LG&E and KU Energy, Louisville Geek, Norton Healthcare, Rogers Group, Superb IPC, UPS and Voestalpine Roll Forming Co.

According to GLI, the program works by partnering a shipping warehouse with a healthcare company, for example. A job seeker could enter the CAN in an entry-level pick and pack position earning $10/hour. The employee would agree to stay in the warehouse position for six months to a year and would use this time to pursue training in healthcare. At the end of the year, the employee would then have the skills necessary to apply for a nursing assistant position or a customer service position earning $15/hour.

TechFirst: An initiative of Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), is a collaborative of top-level industry leadership in tech and tech-related companies that come together to share best practices and engage to support, inform, and develop meaningful growth initiatives within the region’s technology industry. The strategic initiatives that guide TechFirst aim to tell a story about the genesis and growth of the tech community in Greater Louisville. Investors seek to support Greater Louisville in its expansion as a premier destination for technology-based and data-focused opportunities, as well as continue to promote the region’s strong quality of life, professional pathways, and diverse culture.

Displaced Worker Initiative: With partners, KentuckianaWorks and WorkOne, GLI supports workers displaced by COVID-19. Services include a high-traffic job board and a Job Seeker Connection program. If companies have immediate openings GLI can assist companies in strategic marketing to eager job seekers.

Live in Lou – Talent Attraction: GLI’s Live in Lou team has developed a suite of tools to assist companies in recruiting top talent outside of our region. Assets available on liveinlou.com include relocation guides, strategic marketing campaigns and our trained community ambassadors, City Champs.

Academies of Louisville: GLI’s workforce team serves as partnership coordinators for the JCPS Academies of Louisville. GLI recruits and onboards companies to engage with 50+ in-demand career pathways like welding, computer science and prenursing.