The Department of Health and Human Services recently signed a memorandum of understanding with California State University, the nation’s largest four-year public university system, to collaborate on encouraging students to seek federal careers in health care. HHS also hopes the memorandum sets a national model for how universities and federal agencies can work together to meet workforce needs.
“Over the past two years we have coordinated efforts across the Department related to workforce – doing everything we can so that HHS programs and policies reach and benefit the largest number of people across the country,” said HHS Deputy Chief of Staff Angela Ramirez. “We will continue our work to strengthen the health workforce in the coming months. And we are already thinking about the next phase of the HHS Health Workforce Initiative and how it will help to drive new innovations that strengthen our health workforce.”
The partnership will expand pathways and career development opportunities for CSU students through HHS internships, mentorship, and experiential training programs in areas with critical need like nursing, public health, and behavioral health. These programs will enhance workforce readiness among diverse students to fill gaps in the healthcare workforce nationwide.
Additionally, HHS also announced new funding opportunities, new tools on HHS.gov to better find and promote healthcare careers, and released a new report exploring the persistent challenges, some of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, facing the healthcare workforce.
To read the full press release from HHS, click here.