In this episode, UNCA student intern, Emma Hoosier, shares her perspective on the healthcare workforce shortage in Western North Carolina. Through her internship experience, she reflects on conversations with local providers and community members about the challenges facing the region — and the potential solutions emerging from local insights, state initiatives, and national policy discussions. She also shares her own path to becoming an intern with the NCCHW, offering a glimpse into how other students in WNC can get involved in public health efforts across the mountains. Stay tuned for updates on Emma’s written list of policy opportunities. 
In the meantime, check out the following sources:  

AHEC Opportunities for Middle and High School Students: https://mahec.net/residents-and-students/high-school
AHEC Opportunities for health professions students in rotation: https://mahec.net/residents-and-students/student-housing
Hiring Veterans into the Healthcare Workforce: https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2019/04/opportunity-to-hire-veterans-toolkit.pdf
Community Health Workers: https://ncchwa.org/
Robert Wood Johnson  Foundation on recruiting providers from the communities they come from: https://www.rwjf.org/en/insights/blog/2024/09/why-diversifying-the-health-professions-matters-for-everyone.html
Impacts of HR1 on NC: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2025/04/15/older-and-disabled-medicaid-recipients-worried-potential-medicaid-cuts/#:~:text=But%20the%20law%20that%20expanded,for%20the%20Advancement%20of%20Science.

8/10+19

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