Dear Colleagues and Partners,

I am pleased to share the biennial report for the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (VHWDA) covering FY25-FY26. The Authority has experienced tremendous growth and expansion over the last two years. Our staff has more than doubled to support new core functions required by the Code of Virginia, as well as new program implementation and evaluation during that time. The health workforce crisis remains a critical threat to the delivery and accessibility of healthcare services in the Commonwealth, particularly in our rural and urban underserved regions. We remain committed to developing a skilled and robust workforce across all healthcare professions through recruitment initiatives, retention strategies, grant acquisition, local and educational partnerships, state collaboration, and policy development.

Key Focus Areas:

• Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHEC): In 2024, VHWDA partnered with a number of new AHEC host sites, including educational and pipeline programs, free clinics, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and a community hospital, across our eight geographical regions. These sites, many of which already provide clinical training to students, are highly equipped to recruit and mentor future healthcare professionals.

• Graduate Medical Education (GME): The Authority has continued to grow the reach of the statewide GME program by working closely with residency programs and medical schools to strengthen training infrastructure and collaborative partnerships to create a robust pipeline for Virginia’s future physician workforce. Last July, we provided a record number of GME supplemental awards, and 55 new residents began residency training in high-need specialties. Earlier this year, we also received the highest number of GME applications, with a total of 91 slots requested for residencies beginning next year.

• Virginia Nursing Workforce Center (VNWC): VHWDA worked with the General Assembly the two previous years to recommend and establish the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center, following a national model from over 40 other states. The VNWC provides data-driven planning, collaboration, and innovative strategies to develop an adequate and qualified nursing workforce. During the 2026 General Assembly session, the legislature allocated nearly $10 million in state-funded financial incentives for the VNWC to award to help nurses and nursing students enter, advance in, or remain in the nursing workforce.

• Workforce Training Programs & Continuing Education: There has been significant enrollment in the Community Health Worker (CHW) program in the last several years, leading the Authority to expand our workforce training courses to include programs for CHW Supervisors, Direct Support Professionals, and didactic training for Qualified Mental Health Professionals/Behavioral Health Technicians. We also provide immersive training through live learning experiences for Adult Mental Health First Aid and Basic Life Support certification, in person or virtually, to strengthen healthcare professionals' knowledge and practical skills, as well as asynchronous continuing education for Food is Medicine, AI in Medicine, and Dementia Care Immersion.

We believe that innovation and collaboration are essential for success. We invite you to partner with us—whether through shared initiatives, providing feedback, or engaging with our programs.

For more information about our programs and how you can get involved, please visit our website at www.vhwda.org.

Sincerely,

/s/ Harrison L. Hayes
Executive Director
Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority