Strengthening Sacramento’s Healthcare Workforce Pipeline
The Health and Life Sciences Regional Workforce Advisory, held on October 4, 2024, brought together industry leaders, educators, and workforce development professionals to address the growing demand for skilled surgical and radiologic technologist professionals, as well as the need for alignment around clinical placements. Building on the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Healthcare Employer Collaborative and insights from the Folsom Lake Healthcare Summit earlier this year, this event continued the collaborative efforts to align educational programs with workforce needs. Hosted by Valley Vision in partnership with the Los Rios Community College District, the advisory featured valuable insights into workforce trends and strategies to strengthen clinical placement opportunities across the Greater Sacramento region, with a focus on local and developing employer needs. (For more on the Folsom Lake Healthcare Summit, click here.)
The advisory highlighted the rapidly increasing demand for surgical and radiologic technologists. According to the Greater Sacramento North Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, jobs in these fields are projected to grow by 16% over the next five years, double the average regional growth rate. With starting wages expected to range from $35.83 to $39.82 per hour, major healthcare employers are actively seeking qualified candidates. As healthcare systems grow, the need for these roles will likely continue to rise.
The event featured a panel of healthcare and workforce leaders who shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Panelists included:
- Daniel Weaver, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Marshall Medical
- Rob Marchuk, Vice President of Operations, Dignity Health Medical Foundation and CommonSpirit Health
- Adamanda Phillips, Nursing Director of Clinical Decision Area and Inpatient Operations, Sutter Roseville Medical Center
- Lyndon Huling, Executive Director of Talent Acquisition and Compensation Services, UC Davis Health
- Delane Mason, Executive Director of Radiology, UC Davis Health
Moderated by Hilary Tellesen, Workforce Development Director at Valley Vision, the panel emphasized the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers and educational institutions to build a sustainable talent pipeline and support clinical placements.
The employer panel discussed how the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) process helped address the challenges caused by varying job titles for radiologic and surgical technologists. By fostering collaboration among healthcare employers, TPM curriculum facilitated open discussions about staffing challenges and enabled the development of strategies to align training programs with shared employer needs in the region.
Clinical placements remain a significant challenge in healthcare education. Panelists and audience members at the advisory discussed the importance of building stronger partnerships between hospitals and colleges to expand placement opportunities. Improved communication and coordination between colleges and healthcare providers were highlighted as essential steps to optimize clinical placement capacity and support student success. Several healthcare leaders shared their current efforts to increase clinical placements. For example, UC Davis Health hosts over 30 radiology students annually, and other hospitals in the region are exploring ways to expand their capacity despite staffing challenges.
One of the central themes of the meeting was the importance of aligning community college programs with evolving healthcare industry requirements. Rana Ghadban, CEO of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, the hosting organization of the region’s Healthcare Employer Collaborative, emphasized the role of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) framework in fostering collaboration between employers and educational institutions. “This framework allows us to break down complex workforce challenges, identify solutions to strengthen the talent pipeline, and measure the effectiveness of our efforts,” Ghadban explained. The TPM framework not only supports collaboration but also provides a structured process for addressing workforce challenges, ensuring that educational programs remain relevant and aligned with industry demands.
The Health and Life Sciences Regional Workforce Advisory showcased the power of collaboration in addressing workforce challenges in the healthcare sector. Through continued collaboration and alignment with industry needs, Sacramento’s healthcare sector is paving the way for a workforce talent pipeline that ensures a healthier future for the region.
