Ignite Talks: Addressing Shortages through an Emerging Career Program
September 11, 2024
HAP’s Workforce Summit brought together the hospital community to share strategies to grow the workforce and support health care teams.
Pennsylvania hospitals are leading the way, with innovative programs to support their staff and build the pipeline for the future.
During the event, Kenya Pitt, MA, MBA, vice president, chief human resources officer, Penn Medicine-Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, discussed the hospital’s emerging career pipeline for allied health positions.
- The need: The medical center’s pipeline program connects recent graduates from West Philadelphia high schools to employment opportunities within Penn Medicine.
- The medical center identified an opportunity to grow its presence in the community through a “partnership ecosystem” with the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Youth Network, and other community organizations.
- These partners work together to coach, train, and mentor students to ensure they are supported at the hospital and in their communities.
- Generational insights: The partners work together to support young adults interested in health care careers and have experience supporting and coaching Generation Z job seekers.
- Different generations need different forms of support to be successful, Pitt noted. Managers need to understand those differences, as well.
- Quotable: “How do we tap into the current generation?” Pitt asked. “We are living, breathing, and working in a multi-generational workforce.”
HAP thanks our dedicated presenters, sponsors, and attendees for participating in our inaugural Workforce Summit. Check out the full Ignite Talk online (login required) and be on the lookout for additional highlights from the summit on #WorkforceWednesday.