New Website and Student Registry Give State a Competitive Edge in Recruiting and Retaining Health Care Professionals

November 7, 2011

Robust Health Care Workforce is Vital for a Healthy Virginia

(Richmond, Va.) The Virginia Department of Health recently unveiled a new resource aimed at bolstering the state’s health care workforce. The Choose Virginia website, www.choosevirginia.net, provides resources to potential and existing health care professionals, even providing assistance to secondary school students beginning to explore career options.

The website offers information about Virginia’s health profession training programs, pre-health student summer program opportunities, employment opportunities, workforce incentive programs and features the newly developed Virginia Health Professions Student Registry. Adults seeking a career in health care can enter their information in the registry to receive ongoing support through regional Area Health Education Centers. The centers serve as a health workforce pipeline, linking registered users to resources, activities and schools, ultimately empowering students and strengthening Virginia’s health care workforce.

Like other states around the country, Virginia faces a shortage of health care professionals. “Making sure Virginians live safe and healthy lives requires a well-trained cadre of health professionals,” said State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, MD, MBA, FAAP. “Our state offers outstanding medical schools with extraordinary reputations. The newly launched Choose Virginia website and Virginia Health Professions Student Registry further enable the Commonwealth to establish a competitive edge and to compete with other states that have similar shortages of health care professionals.”

“A career in medicine is just one of many health career options,” said Remley.“Virginia needs dedicated professionals in nursing, health information, health administration, environmental health, pharmacy and many more fields. The Choose Virginia website helps potential and existing health care professionals succeed while establishing and maintaining a vital health care workforce in Virginia.”

For more information about health care careers in Virginia, visit www.choosevirginia.net.