Healthcare Workforce Needs Expressed to State Leaders During ESCC Visit
Your Eastern Shore Community College welcomed special guests, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa and Heidi Hertz, Director of Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Initiative on Friday, August 28th on campus in Melfa. Traveling with Figueroa and Hertz, were Dr. Felicia Ganther (Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Services) and Dr. Maurice Jones (Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships) from the Virginia Community College System Office, along with Chief Executive Officer Jeannette Edwards and Dr. Scott Wolpin from Eastern Shore Rural Healthand Virginia Delegate Rob Bloxom.
A brief welcome and introductory discussion at ESCC Workforce were followed by a tour of nursing simulation facilities, where the group discussed the significant nursing shortage on the Eastern Shore and our efforts to expand nursing capacity. These discussions were led by ESCC Vice President, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili, Director of Workforce Scott Hall, and Student Services Director Amy Shockley. ESCC leadership was able to share the local reliance on travel nurses in our community, and the demand for nursing graduates to help fill these roles.
Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa accepts a “YES!” (Your Eastern Shore) lapel pin from ESCC Director of Workforce Scott Hall.
The group also visited space that could potentially be developed into a Dental Hygiene facility, contingent upon funding. The tentative launch of the Dental Hygiene program on the Eastern Shore in Spring 2027 was discussed, and details were shared on ESCC’s partnership with Germanna Community College and Eastern Shore Rural Health. Dr. Wolpin and Jeannette Edwards elaborated on the significant need for dental hygienists in the region and across Virginia, and the resources necessary to establish the appropriate instructional space at ESCC.
Next stop was the ESCC Academic Building and the Practical Nursing (PN) facility where leadership shared the important role the program plays in meeting local healthcare workforce needs. Additional discussion included plans to partner with other VCCS colleges to continue the expansion of healthcare programs at ESCC. Susan Greer of the ESCC Nursing Program joined the narrative.
Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa tours the ESCC campus with Vice President, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili and the ESCC leadership team.
The visiting group then traveled to Eastern Shore Rural Health in Onley for lunch, for a conversation focused on regional healthcare workforce needs and how the Commonwealth, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and community partners can work together to expand sustainable healthcare education and workforce pipelines on the Eastern Shore.
Eastern Shore Community College leadership appreciated the opportunity with state leaders on these significant healthcare workforce needs of the Eastern Shore and to introduce the strong partnerships already in place to address them.