Health Care

Workforce Updates

March 2026

RochesterWorks-sponsored conference to highlight best practices in disability inclusion

What does disability inclusion look like in the workplace? Join RochesterWorks, ACCES-VR, and RIT on March 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Dyer Arts Center at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT for a full day dedicated to inclusion, learning, and making connections.

Hear directly from employers who are building inclusive teams, take part in an immersive Deaf experience, and engage with leaders focused on strengthening partnerships that support hiring and retention.

Space is limited! Register now.

FLPPS CPT Program: Virtual RN to BSN educational programs available; Service commitment sites needed

The FLPPS Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program supports a variety of health, behavioral health, and social care careers, including registered nurses advancing from an RN to a BSN. A limited number of CPT-eligible RN to BSN educational programs remain and are currently accepting applications, with completion scheduled by Spring 2027. These programs are virtual, making it easier for nurses to continue working while advancing their education. Visit healthcareersnow.org/cpt for more information.

Additionally, FLPPS continues to recruit qualified service commitment sites for CPT Program graduates needing to complete their required three-year commitment. NYS Medicaid-enrolled providers serving 30% or more Medicaid and/or uninsured individuals may be eligible. Interested organizations are encouraged to contact the CPT Partner Team to learn more.

Health Care Access Loan Repayment program application deadlines extended

The HEALR Program, administered by the NY State Department of Health, offers loan repayment for providers who commit to serving Medicaid and uninsured communities. Employer applications are now due March 31, 2026, and individual applications are due April 15, 2026. This extension supports a stronger applicant pool and allows residents and fellows finishing in June 2026 more time to apply. Awards will be announced summer 2026. 

Learn more. 

Social Connection as Medicine: How Making a Connection Plan Can Mitigate Loneliness, Mar. 12, 12-1 p.m.

• Part of the Area Health Education Building Better Health Series
• CME’s available

Presented by Abigail Zang Hoffman, MDiv, LMSW, Research Assistant, Helping Older People Engage (HOPE) Lab. CEs are available for Social Work, OT, PT, LMHC, SLP, and Psychology. Email Jason Fulkerson at jfulkerson@r-ahec.org for more information. Register now.  

Care Quest webinar on integrating dental therapists into care teams--Mar. 12, 7–8 p.m. ET

Join Care Quest Institute and the American Dental Therapy Association for a webinar that will explore how dental therapists support access, quality, and team-based care. Eligible for 1 free CE credit. Register now.

Annual ag conference happening Mar. 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

The Urban Agriculture Working Group, in collaboration with the ROC Food Policy Council, invite you to their annual spring conference! Taking place this year on Saturday, March 21 at East High School, you'll enjoy a day of learning and connections featuring interactive workshops, community knowledge sharing, Fruition's Gift of Seed Experience, gardening tables and displays, and more!

Register now!

Free Pain Management Training by Pri-Med Institute with CME Credit

In partnership with the National AHEC Organization’s Training Center and Pri-Med Institute, WNY R-AHEC are promoting the opportunity for healthcare professionals to strengthen their approach to pain management with comprehensive, evidence-based free 4-hour, online training is self-paced and includes:

• Recognizing and classifying pain
• Non-opioid and pharmacologic treatment options
• Strategies to reduce risk and individualize care

When registering, please indicate Western New York Rural AHEC as the agency that told you about the training. Register and take the class!

Explore Care Quest new learning management system

Care Quest offers a suite of live webinars and self-paced courses with CE credit to help you boost your knowledge and your career.

Peruse the offerings.

Certificate program offered in older adult mental health

The E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, in partnership with CATCH-ON, the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program based at Rush, and the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging has developed an online educational program that provides basic knowledge that every mental health clinician needs to work effectively with older adults. This16-hour self-paced online certificate program for mental health clinicians, this serves as a first step in developing competency in older adult mental health.

Learn more.

New series of e-learning modules available for emergency medicine residents from the 

"Pathways to Practice: Residents" is part of the Geriatric Emergency Department Collaborative | The SAGE Course Collection. The modules help emergency medicine residents better understand how to effectively care for older adults in the emergency department. The series includes 19 modules that cover topics from medication management to palliative care. Modules can be completed in just 20 to 40 minutes.

Learn more. 

RochesterWorks February 2026 | Issue #46 Newsletter

Healthcare is shaping the future of our regional economy, and this month’s RochesterWorks newsletter is dedicated entirely to the opportunities it creates. As local and state economic development leaders continue to recognize health care as one of the most critical engines of growth in the Greater Rochester area, the demand for skilled talent has never been higher. From hospitals and long‑term care facilities to laboratories, community health organizations, and emerging tech‑driven roles, this special edition highlights the careers, training programs, and resources that are driving momentum across our region. Whether you’re exploring a new direction, looking to advance your skills, or supporting someone entering the workforce, this issue is designed to help you understand where the opportunities are—and how to take the next step.

Read the full newsletter.

Startup costs and confusion are stalling apprenticeships in the US. Here’s how to fix it. Annelies Goger, Feb. 12, 2026, Brookings Institution.

Startup costs, high administrative burdens, inconsistent standards, and a lack of clear guidance are deterring US employers from launching apprenticeship programs. Annelies Goger explores why these barriers persist and draws on insights from her earlier report on how policymakers can build a shared infrastructure model that better supports both workers and businesses.

Read more in this Brooking Institution article.

Please share your health care workforce updates

If you have workforce updates to share, or any feedback or ideas for this newsletter, please contact Melissa Wendland at melissa.wendland@commongroundhealth.org.

Please share this newsletter with others in your organization who might benefit and encourage them to sign up to receive it. 
https://www.commongroundhealth.org/newsletter-sign-up