Iroquois Healthcare Association Expands Rural Health Workforce Pipeline, Highlighted in Politico
The Iroquois Healthcare Association (IHA) was featured today in Politico’s New York Health Care newsletter for its expansion of the Early College High School (ECHS) Health Sciences program — an innovative initiative that creates direct pathways for high school students into in-demand healthcare careers, right in their own communities.
Supported by a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, IHA has launched three new ECHS pilot sites, including programs in Franklin and Tompkins Counties, with a third location to be announced. The program partners with local school districts, colleges, and hospitals to help students earn college degrees, gain clinical experience, and connect with prospective employers — all before they graduate high school.
“Rural hospitals can’t compete with urban centers on salary alone, but we can offer something equally powerful: the chance to build a career close to home,” said IHA President & CEO Kevin M. Kerwin. “By partnering across counties and sectors, we’re creating pathways that didn’t exist before — showing students that meaningful healthcare careers are possible right here.”
The ECHS Health Sciences program addresses one of rural New York’s most pressing challenges: attracting and retaining a qualified healthcare workforce. By investing in local students early, IHA and its partners are building a sustainable talent pipeline that benefits both communities and the healthcare system at large.