The fullness of a person’s life relies on good health and nurturing care, supported by the confidence that experienced professionals will be there when they’re needed

Regrettably, our nation’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape has become burdened with staffing shortages. Challenges such as provider burnout, an aging population and rising college tuition costs have all made traditional recruitment more difficult, threatening patient access to care. Demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace the available workforce, posing hardships for executives and HR leaders alike.

To address this challenge, leading healthcare systems are adopting a more proactive approach to talent acquisition and retention. Investing in sustainable “talent workforce pipelines” eliminates the need for personnel to start from scratch, instead flowing straight into stronger, tighter talent alignment. Pipelines enable organizations to stay prepared to fill critical roles whenever the need arises, focusing on development that improves the quality of their hires.

As Halifax’s HR Director of Organizational Development & Learning, Serena Fisher knows it’s important to think outside the box. “When you’re willing to bring on someone based on potential, soft skills and organizational fit instead of trying to hire a ‘perfect candidate,’ you open doors for individuals who might not have otherwise had that opportunity,” she says. “Apprenticeships and internships allow us to develop competence and confidence while they’re earning their education and gaining experience.”

One of the most respected industry pipelines is operating in Volusia County. Halifax Health and Daytona State College, with funding from Florida’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program, are collaborating on three fronts: tuition subsidies, internships that let students apply their training toward long-term careers, and apprenticeships that allow students to earn pay while studying under the guidance of experienced staff. Leaders have committed millions of dollars to increase opportunities for students to transition directly from Daytona State College into careers at Halifax Health. The partnership includes:

1. A Halifax Health Education to Employment Scholarship covers 100% of Daytona State College medical students’ tuition. Eligible careers include nursing, radiography, sonography, medical coding/billing, occupational therapy assistant, phlebotomy, physical therapist assistant, respiratory care and surgical technology.
2. Enrolled nursing students can now work in paid positions during their schooling. Student Nurse Internships match participants to care areas based on their interests and skills, rotating through hospital units to find the best fit, observe patient populations, and practice hands-on skills under the supervision of registered nurses. The program also allows shadowing in areas such as respiratory therapy, case management, dialysis and physical therapy.
3. A pipeline Apprenticeship Program combines education and practical experience in a supportive, professional environment, pairing apprentices with career professionals for mentorship, hands-on training, industry-aligned curriculum and certification pathways.
4. A Summer Scrubs project that allows high school students to work alongside hospital professionals to experience what it feels like in nursing, lab services and rehab, including the rigors and emotional encounters in everyday treatment.

Halifax Health is also enlightening people in non-medical careers about how to convert their skills to the health service field. Disciplines in lesser-known areas have become more essential now, offering alternative careers for those looking to fit into new medical roles.

“A healthcare system is truly its own ecosystem,” says John Guthrie, Vice President and Executive Director for Halifax Health – Foundation. “If someone has a passion for a particular skill or industry, there’s a place for them within healthcare. While physicians and nurses are essential, a network of accountants, food service, financial or cybersecurity specialists can help keep operations sustainable.”

Cynthia Yashus is one Halifax Health pipeline student success story. Becoming a medical coder was never on her radar. When she lost her decades-long job as a bartender, she hesitantly accepted a position in the records department at Halifax Health – the same hospital where she was born and is now a productive staff member.

“The Coding Department quickly approached me with a proposal,” she recalls. “They offered to pay my tuition at Daytona State College if I would learn codes for insurance billing and earn a certification. They would also assist with a paid apprenticeship while I studied for my degree. Four years later, I now have more confidence and a skill that’s brought purpose and pride to my life. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”