Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC), through The Institute for Nursing and Allied Health Advancement, hosted a regional Leadership Roundtable today, bringing together health care executives, education partners and state leadership to discuss Florida’s evolving health care workforce needs and opportunities for collaboration. The Institute is a PHSC initiative that focuses on addressing critical workforce shortages in nursing and allied health fields within the region.
Held on the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, the roundtable convened local health care leaders alongside Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Shevaun L. Harris and PHSC President Eric Hall, Ed.D. The discussion focused on strengthening the health care talent pipeline, improving workforce retention and preparing students for the future of health care delivery.
“This roundtable reinforced what we already recognize—that no single organization can solve workforce challenges alone,” said President Eric Hall, Ed.D. “At PHSC, our role is to listen, adapt and work side by side with employers and state leaders to ensure our students are prepared not just for their first job, but for long-term, meaningful careers that support the health of our entire region.”
Secretary Harris shared statewide health care administration priorities emerging from the most recent legislative session, highlighting the importance of workforce development partnerships and long-term planning. “Workforce challenges are real, but so are the solutions we build when we collaborate,” said Secretary Shevaun L. Harris. “It was such an honor to join President Hall, the team at Pasco-Hernando State College, and so many health care leaders to discuss this topic and ways to strengthen our health care workforce pipeline. I look forward to the new partnerships that will emerge from today’s discussion which will support a stronger, better health care delivery system in our State.”
Participants also engaged in a robust discussion on barriers to retention, opportunities for deeper collaboration and the skills health care employers need most over the next three to five years. Key themes included the need for:
- Stronger alignment between education and industry needs
- Clear career advancement pathways for health care professionals
- Expanded partnerships in training, shared resources and community outreach
- Preparing students for emerging trends that will transform health care delivery
The roundtable concluded with a call for continued collaboration between PHSC, health care providers and state agencies to ensure the region’s health care workforce remains resilient, skilled and prepared for the future.