Investing in Workforce Development to Improve the Healthcare System

Investing in workforce development is critical to strengthening the healthcare system, as it directly addresses staff shortages, skill gaps and burnout among healthcare professionals, according to the World Health Organization. A well-trained and properly supported workforce not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances system efficiency, which is especially vital during public health crises. Such investments contribute to economic growth and health equity by creating career pathways and improving access to quality care in underserved communities.

AHPA Recognizes That Workforce Development is a Driver of Health

AHPA views a strong, well-prepared public health workforce as essential to improving population health and ensuring the effectiveness of the healthcare system. AHPA emphasizes the importance of investing in training to address current shortages and prepare for future health challenges. Strengthening the public health workforce supports disease prevention, promotes overall well-being and ensures that communities have access to vital services, particularly in underserved areas. AHPA believes that strategic, long-term efforts to enhance workforce capacity are crucial to advancing health equity.

Government Investment Can Create Sustainable Solutions for Workforce Development Nationwide

Funding can support:

• Public health education and training programs: Investing in education and training helps build a pipeline of skilled professionals equipped to respond to current and emerging health threats. Enhanced support can improve workforce capability, fill critical skill gaps and ensure a strengthened public health infrastructure.
• Strengthened partnerships between academic institutions and health agencies: Federal grants can support collaborative efforts between schools and public health organizations, helping align educational programs with workforce needs. These partnerships can offer students real-world training experiences and ensure smoother transitions into the workforce.
• Targeted recruitment initiatives: Government support can enable outreach programs, scholarships and mentorship opportunities to increase diversity in the public health workforce. A more representative workforce improves health equity and service delivery in diverse communities.

The five AHPA health systems are already leading the way in addressing Workforce Development within their communities:

AdventHealth is Strengthening Workforce Development Through Targeted Investments and Training Initiatives:

• Community Impact Grants for Workforce Training: AdventHealth is investing nearly $1.4 million over three years in six Central Florida nonprofits to address urgent workforce needs. These grants fund job training, internships, apprenticeships and education assistance in healthcare. 
• Expanding Healthcare Career Training Through Comprehensive Programs: AdventHealth University Tampa, was created to address the region’s nursing shortage by expanding access to quality nursing education. The campus includes advanced simulation labs and will launch a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) with AdventHealth Tampa, enabling students to train alongside nurses in real hospital settings. In partnership with Jobs Partnership, the university also offers LifeWorks, a free 12-week healthcare training program for under-skilled job seekers in Central Florida. 

LLUH Advances Workforce Development By Training Community Health Workers and Care Teams to Support Underserved Populations:

• Community Health Worker (CHW) Integration Program: This program trains and employs individuals from underserved communities to improve health access and equity. 
• Hospital Violence Intervention Program: This program supports workforce development by employing and training a multidisciplinary team to deliver trauma-informed care to violence-affected patients. 

Adventist Health Is Growing the Healthcare Workforce by Training Youth and Students Through Hands-on Programs: 

• Pipeline Programs for Youth and Students: At Adventist Health White Memorial, the Healthcare Workforce Development Program gives high school and college students hands-on hospital experience, job prep and financial literacy training, serving over 2,000 youth, with 80% entering healthcare jobs. In Oregon and southwest Washington, the Student Healthcare Leaders (SHL) program offers high schoolers hands-on exposure to hospital roles, mentorship and career insights. Now in its 10th year, SHL has engaged nearly 200 students from 30+ schools.
• Clinical Training and Residency Pathways: At Adventist Health Glendale, the Family Medicine Residency Program trains physicians to deliver empathetic, whole-person care through hands-on rotations. In Sonora, a partnership with California Preparatory College offers a 12-week Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Training Program that blends online and in-person learning, creating career pathways and easing staffing gaps in the rural Central Valley.

Adventist HealthCare Advances Workforce Development Through Educational Partnerships:

• Montgomery College Partnership: Adventist HealthCare’s partnership with Montgomery College supports workforce development through mentoring, internships, shadowing and guest lectures for employees and students. It also offers scholarships for nursing and health sciences students, helping remove financial barriers to education.

Kettering Health Is Expanding Workforce Development by Training Community Health Workers and Supporting Industrial Workforce Health: 

• Community Health Worker Training and Placement: Kettering College, part of Kettering Health, launched a federally funded Community Health Worker Training Program to train certified CHWs who serve as trusted liaisons between communities and healthcare services. The program includes 100+ hours of classroom instruction and 130 hours of hands-on experience.
• Industrial Outreach Program: Through its Industrial Outreach program, Kettering Health deploys athletic trainers to the local industrial workforce to provide job assessments, injury prevention, ergonomic coaching and return-to-work programs.

The Opportunity to Transform Workforce Development

Investing in workforce development solutions is essential for building a resilient and inclusive economy. As industries evolve and technology reshapes the job market, strategic investments in education and training empower individuals to meet demands while reducing inequality. To realize this potential, stakeholders across government, business, education and philanthropy must come together to improve workforce systems, prioritize equity and commit to sustainable funding.

Additional Resources:

• ⁨LifeWorks Training
• CHW Integration
• Dr. Burruss Championing Community Through Violence Intervention