UVM Health Network Event Introduces Students to Careers in Health Care
A national health care workforce shortage has contributed to nearly 1,500 job openings across the health system, as well as the launch of numerous professional development and educational partnerships to create pipelines for new workers
Essex Junction, VT – Nearly 250 students from more than a dozen high schools and career centers in Vermont met with health care professionals from across University of Vermont Health Network today, at a health care careers fair at Champlain Valley Exposition.
More than two dozen departments from health care partners across the health system participated in the career fair, as did representatives from educational partners like Vermont State University, University of Vermont.
The event, the first of its kind in Vermont, comes after a similar career fair in Plattsburgh, New York, drew hundreds of high school students from across northern New York last October. Katrina Stone, network manager of Talent Acquisition, said the health system’s goal continues to be exposing students to a wide range of careers in health care – many of which most people are not even aware exist.
“Our goal is to showcase the tremendous opportunity and potential careers in health care hold across our region. Students had the opportunity to explore various careers, connect with health care professionals and discover potential mentors,” said Stone of today’s career fair. “We hope these experiences provided valuable insight that will help them make informed decisions about their education and future career plans. These opportunities have a positive impact on both our students and our community. We are grateful for the continued support and look forward to more events like this in the future.”
Despite broad success growing professional development pipelines and educational partnerships for health care careers throughout the region, the health system has nearly 1,500 job openings across Vermont and northern New York.
The health system’s efforts, which come amid an extended health care workforce crisis, have earned it national recognition as an innovative leader in the development of career training and continuing education programs serving employees and the community.
Shining a Light on Little-Known Careers
For health care educators like Marla Garcia, MS, RT, (R)(M), director of the CVPH School of Radiologic Technology at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), connecting with students at any level has shifted dramatically.
These days, students are more sophisticated, more demanding, and less willing to give recruiters – and potential career options – time and space, she said. Garcia in June will celebrate her 26th year at CVPH and has been organizing and participating in middle- and high school student outreach for nearly two decades.
“The students that I started with in 2005 aren’t the students that I have now,” said Garcia. “Students now are consumers: they want a high-quality product: Gamification, video-based learning. Students don’t want their time wasted, and they don’t want to spend thousands of dollars and not really know what they want to do with their education.”
Cara Grogan, RRT, an adult respiratory educator at University of Vermont Medical Center, said high demand for respiratory therapists – a specialized role trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine – and low public visibility into the career have created challenges for recruitment and retention.
In 2023 the health system partnered with Vermont State University to create an RT Pathway Program for employees interested in the career. But demand for respiratory therapists continues to outpace training and educational pipelines.
“Right now, students want to see the capability of career growth,” she said. “The challenge with respiratory therapy is a lack of knowledge about the career in general.”
Hands-On, Behind-the-Scenes
Even for better-known and beloved health care careers, like nursing, there are poorly understood career opportunities, said Beth Goyet, MSN-Ed, RN, NPD-BC, a nursing professional development practitioner at UVM Medical Center. The hospital, through a partnership with Community College of Vermont, has established a LNA to RN Pathway Program for employees.
At events like today’s career fair, Goyet focuses on roles Operating Room nursing – a somewhat obscure role that often is not highlighted by training and education programs. She said the work requires interdisciplinary collaboration in a fast-paced environment that incorporates technology, critical thinking and high levels of organization.
“Everyone wants to see, look and touch, so having a hands-on component is so important,” said Goyet, who brought an array of surgical implements with her for students to explore. “There really is a spot for everyone in this vast arena of jobs. Helping students see all the different types of nursing out there is something I love.”
Lia McFarline, CLS, administrative director of Laboratory Services for UVM Health Network – Porter Medical Center and UVM Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital, said a range of issues have combined to create a national shortage of laboratory technicians: from generations aging out of the workforce to limited public awareness and few training programs. The health system has created a Lab Tech Training Program for employees interested in moving into the career.
“Opening up folks earlier to these opportunities is so important,” said McFarline. “There are so few training opportunities for this career. You really need to go into (college) with the idea that you’re going into the field of science. I feel like we lose people because they get set on one track and don’t want to change.”
For Geoffrey Farnum, MSN, RN, director of nursing education and workforce development at UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center, connecting with students is a reminder of how important awareness and information-sharing can be. Farnum has been at CVMC for 25 years and has worked in nursing education since 2008.
“I wish I had this when I was thinking about going into nursing and health care,” he said. “The more information students have, the better decisions they can make. What I’m trying to focus on is: How can I get you ready? Maybe that’s job shadowing, or volunteering, or what courses to take in high school. That’s the approach we’re taking, and people are liking that because they get to make up their own minds and we can be there as a resource."