Health Care

Workforce Updates

August 2024

Message from the Regional Consortium on Health Care Workforce

On August 1, the Regional Consortium on Health Care Workforce hosted presentations by and discussion with the Center for Health Workforce Studies at SUNY Albany and the New York State Department of Labor. Check the Consortium website next week for the meeting minutes and recording.

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This edition of Finger Lakes Health Care Workforce Updates will be the last from Melissa Pennise. Later this month, Melissa will be starting a new role with the workforce team at Finger Lakes Performing Provider System. If you have workforce updates to share, or any feedback or ideas for this newsletter, please contact Melissa Wendland at melissa.wendland@commongroundhealth.org. 

Governor Hochul announces workforce funding awards

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 28 health care facilities statewide will receive $22.5 million in grant funding to enhance health care workforce training. This funding aims to address the critical need for skilled health care professionals by expanding training programs and supporting career advancement opportunities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the state's healthcare system and ensure high-quality care for all residents. The grants will focus on areas such as nursing, home health care, and mental health services, helping to build a resilient and well-equipped healthcare workforce for the future. For more details, read the announcement here and the list of awardees here.

Scholarships available for local medical school graduates

From Rochester Area Community Foundation: 

• The Edward T. Mulligan, MD Memorial Award provides a loan repayment award to a University of Rochester or Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) medical school graduate who has matched in a surgical residency in the metro-Rochester area.
• The John J. Morton, MD and John H. Morton, MD Memorial Scholarship provides loan repayment awards to graduating medical school students who have just matched in a surgical residency or interns and residents continuing in a surgical residency program who plan to focus on patient care.

From Monroe County Medical Society:

• The Charlotte Mowris Memorial Award provides loan repayment to a University of Rochester Medical School or Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) graduate who has matched in a primary care residency in the metro-Rochester area. The award must be applied toward repayment of medical school loans held by recognized lending institutions such as federally insured banks and credit unions. 

Click the links above for more information for each opportunity.

Webinar to explore health care needs of the aging population

On August 7 at noon, NIHCM Foundation will host a webinar addressing health care needs of the aging population. Experts will discuss the rising Medicare costs, long-term care workforce shortages, and health disparities among older adults. Key topics include innovative care models, recent research on health outcomes, and insights from successful Medicare Advantage programs.  

Click here to register.

American Society on Aging to host ageism and health webinar

On August 7 at noon, American Society on Aging will host a webinar exploring the effects of ageism on health. This session will cover how ageist beliefs impact physical and mental well-being, and offer practical steps for self-advocacy. Topics include recognizing personal age biases, understanding ageism's health consequences, and improving age-inclusivity in healthcare.

Click here to register.

Applications are open for the New to Public Health Residency Program

The New to Public Health Residency Program is a first of its kind program designed to support early career public health professionals working in a governmental public health organization.

As a resident, you will learn about foundational areas and capabilities essential to public health practice through a series of monthly learning activities to build competence and confidence as you transition to your exciting new role in public health.

Applications are due August 15. Click here to learn more.

Alzheimer's Association - Rochester/Finger Lakes Chapter announces upcoming learning opportunities

• On Monday, August 12th at noon the chapter will host a Virtual Lunch & Learn for local Public Health Professionals. Join this hour-long event to learn how the Alzheimer's Association has been working nationally to provide local health departments tools and strategies to address dementia and brain health as community health issues. The session will also cover local services and resources. To register for this free ALZ Awareness Lunch and Learn, click the link above.
   

• National recruitment is open for the Fall Project ECHO Series. These are free, interactive case-based virtual Alzheimer's and dementia care (ADC) training programs with two options described below. To learn more or register, please contact Ashley Lorch, Upstate NY Health Systems Director at aslorch@alz.org.

  • Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program for Primary Care (Alzheimer's Association Flagship Program)

    Thursdays beginning October 10, 2024 until March 20, 2025 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST via Zoom 
    Who can be involved: This opportunity is specifically catered to care teams in primary care clinics. However, we have found that geriatric clinic teams have also found our series to be helpful despite some generalized dementia knowledge being shared. If you are wondering if a certain clinic is right for the program, please feel free to reach out.
     
  • ADC ECHO Series in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association and the UCLA ADC Program
    Wednesdays beginning October 23, 2024 until April 2, 2025 from 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm EST via Zoom
    Who can be involved: This opportunity is best suited for care teams who have already participated in a previous ADC Project ECHO series and are looking for a "2.0", or are a clinic that is looking to adopt the UCLA ADC program itself.  This can be a primary care clinic, but may also be a different care setting like a specialty clinic (neurology, geriatric, etc.).

Eleversity to host workplace inclusion lunch and learn - click the image below to register

National Health Service Corps to host webinar for primary care scholarships and loan repayment

Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars now enrolling for Fall 2024

Lifespan's Gerontology Certificate program begins on September 18

Offered in partnership with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC) at the University of Rochester, this two-semester, virtual program begins on September 18. Participants can begin either in the fall (September) or the spring semester (January).

Target audience: Anyone interested furthering a career or gaining knowledge about longevity and aging.

Early bird rates are available for registration before August 18. There are special rates for retirees 65+, family care partners, and Lifespan volunteers.

Click here to learn more and to register.

New professional development opportunities offered by RIT Certified

RIT Certified is offering Evidence-Based Management in Health Care, an online course designed for both clinical and non-clinical health care professionals. This graduate-level course covers the use of advanced technology and comprehensive datasets to make decisions that enhance patient outcomes. Participants will learn to evaluate healthcare data sources and develop implementation plans for evidence-based decisions. The course runs in multiple sessions starting September 9, 2024. Tuition is $1500.

Other RIT Certified courses of interest include:

• Fundamentals of Healthcare Information Systems
• Healthcare Information and Security Standards
• Patient Engagement and Consumer Health Technology

Resources available from Western NY Rural Area Health Education Center

Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center (AHEC) has a few new offerings for continuing education:

• Trauma Informed Care Webinar – This one-hour webinar was recorded on May 1, 2024 as part of the AHEC Health Equity Series. Deb Rhoades, LCSW, CASAC-M, CARC presents on defining trauma and trauma experiences, understanding re-traumatization and ways it can occur, and guiding principles of trauma-informed care. Credit available for Social Work, LMHC, OT, PT, and Speech Language Pathology. 
   
• Professionalism In the Workplace – This one-hour self-paced course is ideal for any organization that is looking to train staff that are new to a healthcare office setting. The course focuses on professional values and appearance, communication, conflict, professional use of technology, health literacy, cultural competency, boundaries and privacy. If you would like to know more about the course please contact Jason Fulkerson, jfulkerson@r-ahec.org
   
• Continuing Education Credits - If your organization is interested in offering continuing education credit for your training events, WNY R-AHEC is an approved provider of credit through the New York State Education’s State Boards for Social Work (#SW-0685), Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health Practitioners (#MHC-0268), and Speech Language Pathology. Contact Jason Fulkerson, jfulkerson@r-ahec.org, for more information.

URMC Department of Psychiatry to host 8th annual behavioral health integration symposium

Behavioral Health Integration through Partnerships: How Health Systems' Collaboration with Community Partners Impacts Service Delivery will be held on September 6 at 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, in person at the Hilton Garden Inn in College town.

This educational activity will provide interdisciplinary and interprofessional education regarding the integration of behavioral health in non-psychiatric settings as well as the promotion of team based biopsychosocial approaches to the evaluation and management of medical conditions.

Participants will benefit from learning about best practices in developing clinical workflows for integrating behavioral health into primary and specialty medical care, the holistic and biopsychosocial assessment of functional neurological disorders, and the contribution of psychological and social factors to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Click here to learn more.

WNY Rural AHEC to offer professional wellness webinars in October - scan QR codes to register

NACCHO unveils updated health equity guide

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has released a comprehensive update to its signature guide, Roots of Health Inequity, aimed at public health professionals. This updated resource offers new strategies and tools for addressing systemic health disparities, fostering community engagement, and promoting health equity. The guide's enhancements are designed to better equip professionals in their efforts to understand and tackle the root causes of health inequities in their communities.

McKinsey report details public sector workforce strategies

The public sector faces unique challenges in attracting, developing, and retaining talent. McKinsey explores how government organizations can adapt their talent strategies to meet future needs. Key recommendations include fostering a culture of continuous learning, embracing digital transformation, and promoting diversity and inclusion. For more detailed strategies and insights, read the full report here.

Registration is open for NYSARH Rural Health Symposium

New York State Association for Rural Health will host its annual Rural Health Symposium on September 19-20 in Binghamton, NY. This year's Symposium features keynote addresses from Dr. Alana Knudsen (Director, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis) and Dr. Brian Justice, and breakout sessions focused on:

• Aging & diversity
• Cultural competence
• Middle leadership
• Climate change
• And more.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Registration is open for the 2024 Partners for Workforce & Economic Development Conference

The 2024 Workforce and Economic Development Conference will take place in Rochester on October 21-23.

New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) is partnering with the New York State Economic Development Council for another convening of workforce and economic development professionals. Click here to register.