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South Piedmont AHEC Regional
Workforce in Motion Newsletter
August 2025
Recruit, Train, and Retain:
Developing the Workforce for a Healthy North Carolina

Collaborative Corner

Partnering for Progress: Shaping Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce
Innovative collaborations are redefining how we train, support, and grow the healthcare workforce.

Welcome to the August edition of the Workforce in Motion Newsletter! This month we are highlighting innovative partnerships taking shape in our region— alliances that are reimagining how we prepare, support, and grow the healthcare workforce. As healthcare systems face rising demand, aging populations, and ongoing workforce shortages, one thing is certain: lasting solutions require collaboration across sectors.

Together, health systems, community colleges, training centers, and
universities are:
  • Designing curricula that reflect real-time clinical and workforce needs.
  • Expanding access to clinical placements and earn-and-learn opportunities.
  • Upskilling current employees through flexible, stackable credentials.
  • Strengthening career pathways to meet evolving healthcare demands.
These aren’t just workforce initiatives — they’re long-term investments in stronger communities, a more resilient talent pipeline, and a healthcare system built for the future.

Kimberly Schnitzler, RN, MSN
South Piedmont AHEC Regional Workforce Development Project Manager

In This Issue:
  • Workforce Pulse: NC AHEC NEWS: Explore the Center on the Workforce for Health Data Hub!
  • Workforce Pulse: NC STATE NEWS: Shaping North Carolina's Workforce Future: 11 Bold Goals for Progress
  • Workforce Pulse: SOUTH PIEDMONT REGIONAL NEWS: Revolutionizing Rural Healthcare: Atrium Health Brings an Innovative Virtual Nursing Program to Stanly County
  • Workforce Pulse: SOUTH PIEDMONT REGIONAL NEWS: News from the Region: Atrium Health Introduces an Innovative New Wellness Program Supporting New Graduate Nurses
  • Pathway Spotlight: CAREERS IN FOCUS: Building Brighter Futures: UNiSON Strengthens Education and Workforce Alignment in Union and Anson Counties
  • On The Horizon:
    • South Piedmont AHEC Regional Healthcare Workforce Collaborative Meeting – REGISTER NOW!
    • Health Careers Conference and Expo
    • Leadership at Lunch Series: Bite-Sized Learning for Big Impact
  • Call to Action: Submit future Workforce in Motion Newsletter content
Workforce Pulse: NC AHEC NEWS
Explore the Center on the Workforce for Health Data Hub!

The Center on the Workforce for Health’s Data Hub is a comprehensive, publicly accessible platform designed to support strategic health workforce planning in North Carolina. It brings together a suite of curated tools and dashboards that provide insights into workforce supply, demand, education pipelines, and occupational trends. These resources are organized by topic and profession, making it easy for users—especially healthcare employers, educators, and policymakers—to find relevant data for informed decision-making.

This Data Hub is particularly useful in workforce planning because it enables stakeholders to anticipate staffing needs, identify regional shortages, and align training programs with future demand. Tools like the NC HTA Dashboard and
NC NurseCast offer visualizations and projections that help employers plan for both immediate staffing and long-term growth. Meanwhile, resources like the myFutureNC Dashboard and D4 Occupational Projections Tool provide a broader view of the talent pipeline and job market trends, helping organizations invest strategically in workforce development and partnerships. The Data Hub empowers users to move from reactive hiring to proactive, data-informed workforce strategies. Read more about this resource HERE.

For more information on Center on the Workforce for Health Data Hub click here.
 
Workforce Pulse: NC STATE NEWS
Shaping North Carolina's Workforce Future:
11 Bold Goals for Progress

The Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeship has introduced 11 strategic goals designed to strengthen the connection between jobseekers, learners, and employers across North Carolina. These goals represent the state’s top priorities for boosting economic mobility and aligning education and workforce efforts over the next four years. From expanding apprenticeships and work-based learning to integrating AI skills and increasing employer engagement, the Council’s recommendations are designed to meet evolving industry needs and support a more well-trained, future-ready workforce.

Anchored by the foundational goal of ensuring 2 million North Carolinians ages 25–44 earn an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by 2030, this comprehensive blueprint lays the groundwork for a more skilled, resilient, and connected workforce. The alignment of K–12 education, postsecondary training, and employer partnerships reflects a shared commitment to building strong talent pipelines and addressing barriers to employment such as childcare, housing, and transportation.

With measurable progress already underway, including rising credential attainment and increased participation in apprenticeships, the Council is now turning its focus to implementation. The next phase will involve developing actionable strategies, setting measurable milestones, and engaging key stakeholders across sectors to ensure alignment and accountability. These efforts will guide collective action and help North Carolina build a workforce ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Read the full report here.
 
Workforce Pulse: SOUTH PIEDMONT REGIONAL NEWS
 
Revolutionizing Rural Healthcare
Atrium Health Stanly’s Virtual Nursing Program Brings
High-Tech Care and 50 New Jobs

Atrium Health Stanly is leading the way in rural healthcare innovation with the launch of a virtual nursing program—an initiative made possible by a $1.45 million grant from the Duke Endowment. This initiative will make it the first rural hospital in the state fully equipped for virtual nursing. This cutting-edge model allows registered nurses to provide care remotely using in-room cameras, video, audio, and real-time monitoring systems. From conducting admission interviews to tracking vital signs and answering patient questions, virtual nurses work in tandem with bedside teams to enhance patient care, reduce readmissions and improve patient outcomes.

This advancement is especially significant for rural communities like Stanly County, where nursing shortages and long travel distances often limit access to timely care. By integrating virtual nursing, Atrium Health Stanly is expanding healthcare access, easing the burden on local staff, and improving outcomes for patients. This program is expected to create 50 new jobs and marks a major step forward in bringing advanced, technology-driven care to underserved areas.

To read the full article from Becker's Hospital Review, click here.
 
Workforce Pulse: SOUTH PIEDMONT REGIONAL NEWS
 
Supporting Atrium Health Launches New
Wellness Program for New Graduate Nurses

Starting a career in nursing is exciting—but it’s also one of the most stressful transitions a new graduate can face. Atrium Health is proud to announce a new Wellness initiative designed specifically for newly graduated nurses, providing them with the support they need to thrive—not just survive—in their new roles.

As one of the nation's leading healthcare systems, Atrium Health understands that caring for our caregivers is essential. That is why we have expanded our comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to include a newly implemented benefit tailored for new graduate nurses. This initiative offers confidential access to resources such as counseling, stress management workshops, crisis intervention, and support for work-life challenges—all at no cost to the employee.

Why This Matters
New nurses often experience high stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue as they adjust to demanding roles in a fast-paced healthcare environment. Unfortunately, these pressures contribute to high turnover rates and even early exits from the profession.
 
By investing in their wellness from day one, Atrium Health is working to:
  • Improve nurse retention: When nurses feel supported, they’re more likely to stay. Robust wellness resources show new graduates that they are valued, which builds loyalty and reduces costly turnover.
  • Enhance patient care: A well-supported nurse is more present, focused, and empathetic—key traits that directly impact patient safety and satisfaction.
  • Boost morale and job satisfaction: Counseling and support services help nurses manage the emotional weight of their jobs, leading to greater satisfaction and a healthier workplace culture.
  • Reduce stigma around mental health: By normalizing the use of EAPs and other health and wellness tools, Atrium Health encourages help-seeking behavior, helping new graduate nurses get the care they need—without fear or shame.
  • Build a resilient workforce: Through wellness resources and opportunities for continued learning, new nurses can develop the skills and coping strategies they need to stay grounded, grow professionally, and stay committed to their careers.
This program is more than just a health benefit—it’s a bold step toward a culture that recognizes the emotional labor of healthcare and responds with compassion and proactive care.

A Healthier Workforce Starts with Support
Atrium Health’s EAP isn’t just good for people, it's good for business.
By supporting employee well-being, organizations see improved performance, lower absenteeism, and stronger team dynamics.

Whether it’s managing personal stress or navigating a challenging new role, new graduate nurses now have a powerful resource to lean on. By supporting the well-being of our new graduate nurses, we ensure better outcomes for everyone – it’s a win-win.
 
Pathway Spotlight: CAREERS IN FOCUS
 Building Brighter Futures
UNiSON Strengthens Education and Workforce
Alignment in Union and Anson Counties

Since its launch in 2021, Our Future in UNiSON (UNiSON) has been working at the crossroads of education and economic opportunity in Union and Anson counties, with a mission to improve educational attainment and align it with the region’s evolving workforce needs. With early support from the ncIMPACT Initiative and ongoing backing from organizations like myFutureNC, South Piedmont Community College, Wingate University, and local school systems and chambers of commerce, UNiSON is creating real momentum toward a future-ready community.

At the heart of this work is the Labor Alignment Workgroup, one of four workgroups within UNiSON, dedicated to strengthening the link between what students learn and the careers that await them. The group’s key focus is identifying in-demand occupations across the region, understanding what skills and education they require, and using this data to shape clear, accessible career pathways for residents.

This initiative brings together a wide range of stakeholders—from economic developers and educators to business leaders and workforce boards—including the Anson County and Union County Chambers of Commerce, Centralina Workforce Development Board, Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission, and others. Together, they are driving a coordinated effort to equip local talent for local opportunity.

Using powerful labor market analytics from Lightcast, the workgroup developed a dynamic tool to assess high-demand occupations based on several criteria: job growth, average wages, educational requirements, automation risk, and student interest. The result? A data-informed ranking of the top five career pathways for each educational level—high school diploma/postsecondary non-degree, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree.
To ensure the real-world relevance of this data, UNiSON gathered feedback directly from employers through targeted focus groups. Five career clusters have emerged as top priorities for the region’s economic vitality:
  • Healthcare
  • Business and Finance
  • Manufacturing
  • Construction Trades
  • Computer Science
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In particular, healthcare has taken center stage. Employers across the healthcare spectrum—from hospitals and nursing homes to pharmacies and senior care providers—participated in a roundtable discussion to help refine and modernize career pathways that meet current and future demands.

As a result, the Healthcare Pathways Group has been established to update educational pathways aligned with industry needs. These pathways will soon be accessible online through the Credential Registry, a platform designed to provide clear and transparent information about credentials and skills.

UNiSON’s work is more than just a local initiative—it’s a model for how communities can come together to close the gap between education and employment. By aligning classroom learning with career opportunities, Union and Anson counties are investing in a stronger, more resilient future for all.

Stay connected with UNiSON as we continue to shape the future of education and workforce alignment in our region.

On the Horizon: UPCOMING EVENTS

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South Piedmont AHEC Regional Healthcare Workforce Collaborative Meeting

September 18, 2025 | 2 PM–3:30 PM

The South Piedmont AHEC Collaborative will reconvene regularly scheduled meeting starting September 18th. We will be utilizing the summer months to recruit additional members to join the collaborative, updating our regional profile with the newly collected 2025 survey responses, as well as planning the agenda for our September kick-off meeting.

Register Now
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Health Careers
Conference and Expo

October 8, 2025 | 9 AM–1:30 PM

Sponsored by South Piedmont AHEC and UNC Charlotte, this FREE event will provide prospective health careers high school students with the opportunity to explore a variety of health careers pathways. The event will feature campus tours, key impact speakers and an interactive expo packed with healthcare professionals and health science programs.

More info
Leadership at Lunch Series:
Bite-Sized Learning for Big Impact
 
Join South Piedmont AHEC for our Leadership at Lunch Series—a collection of affordable, one-hour trainings designed to help you lead with confidence, resilience, and impact. Each session tackles a critical leadership challenge, from preventing burnout and communicating effectively to retaining top talent and bridging generational gaps. Invest in your growth over lunch and gain practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills.

For Series Information, click here.

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Navigating Conflict: Essential Skills for Effective Leadership

August 26, 2025 | 12 PM–1 PM
Connie Curtis, M.Ed.

Conflict is inevitable—how you handle it defines your leadership. This session explores the roots of conflict, leadership styles for managing it, and practical strategies to turn tension into teamwork. Walk away with tools to address conflict with confidence and clarity.

Register Now
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Unleash Peak Performance: Build a Fearless Team Culture

September 18, 2025 | 12 PM–1 PM
Katie Lawrence, MHA, CMPE

In this one-hour class, you’ll discover ways to eliminate fear from your team’s DNA and replace it with trust, courage, and collaboration. Learn how to foster an environment where people feel empowered to take risks, share bold ideas, and grow—together.

Register Now

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