Alison Zarlingo: Hello and welcome. I'm Allison Zarlingo. And I'm honored to serve as the new Workforce Development Director. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of something deeply important, not just for our organization, but for the future of healthcare in our entire community.

Like many rural healthcare systems, San Juan Regional has faced real challenges. Workforce shortages, a wide service area, and the realities of a remote location have made recruitment increasingly difficult. But instead of stepping back, we've chosen to lean in with intention, creativity, and heart. We're working to build something sustainable to ensure that we can meet the healthcare needs of this region for decades to come.

Through our Grow and Homegrown initiatives, we are re-imagining what workforce development can look like in a rural setting. These aren't just programs, they are career pathways. Pathways for students, professionals, and anyone who wants to build a meaningful career in healthcare right here at home.

Let's start with Grow. At its core, this initiative is about visibility and opportunity because, at its core, this initiative is about visibility and opportunity because the truth is simple—kids can't be what they can't see. We're working closely with Farmington Municipal Schools to open doors for students through summer internships, year-round work-based learning and expanded clinical rotations across more than a dozen clinics. Through the support of clinical directors and managers, these experience give students hands-on exposure to healthcare careers from clinical specialties to front desk operations, helping them build both technical knowledge and essential soft skills. And we are just getting started. We're especially excited about our partnership from Farmington High School where students will be able to participate in PCT clinical rotations with a clear path towards employment after graduation.

Our vision is to expand this opportunity even further, reaching more schools and more students across our region, because investing in our community early matters. The same commitment extends to our higher education students. Supporting learners through clinical rotations has been a top priority of our leadership team. Through strong partnerships with San Juan College, Pueblo Community College, and Fort Lewis College, we're creating a network of support that goes far beyond the classrooms and helps to build career pathways for RN nurses, medical assistants, radiology techs, physical and occupational therapists, EMTs, and phlebotomists. We're not just teaching skills, we're building confidence, connection, and careers, while also ensuring continuity of care within our organization.

But we also know that talent alone isn't enough if financial barriers stand in the way, our stipend and scholarship programs are crucial because they enable our students to concentrate on their learning and personal growth without the burden of financial stress from educational cost. This semester, 39 students at San Juan College are benefiting from our stipend program. We are also in the process of expanding these opportunities to other programs, including radiology students at Weaver State. And we continue to support our scholarship programs for physical and occupational therapists. We are deeply committed to providing access to education and equity.

Now, let's talk about what happens after graduation. The transition from students tp professional can feel overwhelming. That's where our nurse residency programs come in. An initiative made possible through the incredible leadership of our CNO, Alan Vierling, Blaire Chatterton, and the nurse development team. And together, we continue to create additional programs such as nursing boot camps. These programs are developed to bridge the gap between education and real-world practice through mentorship, structured support, and leadership development. We're helping new nurses build confidence, strengthen their skills and find their place within our community. The impact is clear: stronger retention, higher job satisfaction, and better care for our patients.

Finally, we want to talk about something truly special, our homegrown campaign. This initiative celebrates the people who have chosen to grow with us. The caregivers who started in one role, worked hard, intentionally grew their skills and expertise, and stepped into an expanded role, these individuals who saw possibilities within themselves and were given the opportunity to pursue it. Here at San Juan Regional Medical Center, we have countless stories of caregivers who have truly been homegrown. These stories are inspiring and they reflect resilience, dedication, and incredible potential that already exists within our organization.

As part of our long-term strategy, we are partnering with educational institutions to ensure every team member has access to ongoing learning, upskilling and career advancement. When our caregivers grow, the entire community benefits, and we help to retain our caregivers who make our hospital special. At the end of the day, this work is more than just workforce development. It's about building the future, a future where local talent thrives, where barriers are reduced, where opportunity is visible, accessible, and achievable. And more importantly, a future where we all grow together. One story, one student, one caregiver at a time. This is Alison Zarlingo. Thank you for joining us today.