We are creating a space for individuals like Enery Cervantes, a young woman who grew up in Yuma and decided that she wanted to work in healthcare. Against the backdrop of economic challenges, language barriers, and limited access to education resources, she was able to pursue an associate degree at Arizona Western College. With the help of Yuma Regional Medical Center and Arizona Western College’s faculty and staff, she has achieved her dreams of becoming a Medical Assistant and is now taking strides toward bachelor. Her story is one of many that expresses the power of collaboration and commitment to building an integrated, sustainable healthcare workforce in Yuma County. It demonstrates how two organizations that share values and strategic priorities can come together to fill gaps and provide meaningful opportunities for all members of our community. This collaboration is an example of an entrepreneurial college and hospital partnership that will serve as a model for other rural communities. Entrepreneur mindset, making a real difference in the healthcare field. This is our story and together we are working to make it happen. We are investing in our local population through access to early information about career tracks in healthcare, and providing training opportunities such as apprenticeships and internships, certifications, degree programs, and upskilling initiatives. As a result, not only will our healthcare workforce be prepared to meet the demands of today, but they will also be equipped with the skills and expertise necessary to lead us into tomorrow.

As leaders of higher education, it is our responsibility to identify and partner with local organizations that share in our mission and vision to bridge the gaps between communities and educational resources. This is precisely why we at Yuma Regional Medical Center are dedicated to breaking down barriers when it comes to healthcare accessibility; just as we believe in eliminating all obstacles preventing people from accessing an education. We understand what it means for a college to be part of its community. It is our job to create opportunities and provide the resources needed so that everyone has access to gainful employment and a chance to pursue their dreams. Leaders must also understand the importance of collaboration and partnership, particularly in rural healthcare settings to make sure that all individuals have access to quality care, education, and training. We must strive for innovative solutions that benefit everyone in the community and beyond. This involves investing in our local population, creating pathways to professional success, and providing access to resources such as certifications and degree programs. We are committed to doing our part to create a future full of hope and opportunity for all especially those living in rural communities. We must continue to be champions of collaboration and work together to inspire our future healthcare heroes and innovators. Our collective efforts will make a real difference in the lives of many. By investing in our local population, we are creating a better tomorrow for everyone.

The most tangible is a $40million, 78,000 sq ft shared teaching/learning facility on the hospital campus that will serve students from certificate-level programs, like phlebotomy, all the way up to medical resident students on rotation. It will include university partners who offer the last two years of a bachelor’s degree and beyond, increasing our Big Hairy Audacious Goal of doubling bachelor’s degrees in our region. It will include simulation labs, lecture halls, and classrooms, and it will feature cross-functional learning so everyone is benefitting from the larger ecosystem technicians and clinicians, doctors and support staff. It has huge potential to attract new talent to the region and to retain students who currently need to leave the community for this type of training. Beyond the building, we’re dedicated to the shared responsibility of building the pipeline for this Allied Health educational ecosystem – from curriculum to pathways to hiring faculty to articulating our programs with higher-level educational partners. Early work in this realm that demonstrates our shared capacity to do this work include Community Health Workers, Mental Health Technicians, and the expansion of our nursing program, which grew by more than 35% in the last year. This work will outlast all of us. Our time at our organizations is limited, but the potential to grow this program is without limits, and it will include health-related fields we need to develop education for that we can’t even yet imagine. The future for our community’s well-being is bright!