The NEW Healthcare Alliance was recently formed to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem within the New North region through collaboration between healthcare professionals, organizations and community partners. Using shared expertise, it is actively executing a three-pronged work program around Healthcare Workforce Solutions, Next Generation Engagement and Clinical Excellence.

The NEW Healthcare Alliance is among seven New North-led industry alliances, which are strategically designed to focus on specific business industries and to maximize impact through collaboration and shared resources. The other alliances are the NEW Construction Alliance, NEW Digital Alliance, NEW Launch Alliance, NEW Educational Resource Alliance, New North Economic Development Council, and New North Broadband Alliance. Through the fostering of strong industry connections, the alliances help to streamline efforts, enhance efficiency and prevent redundancy.

“With its leadership in place and standing committees actively convening, we are excited by the possibilities of the NEW Healthcare Alliance,” says Rebecca Deschane, overseer of the Alliance as vice president of talent development for New North Inc. “Early engagement shows strong regional buy-in and positions the Alliance to advance scalable healthcare talent pipelines, and to align education and industry partners around shared priorities.”

Sarah Hutchinson, possessor of more than a decade in operations and human resources as a member of the United States Marine Corps, leads the day-to-day implementation of the NEW Healthcare Alliance as its project manager. A Wisconsin native based in De Pere, her work focuses on the strengthening of regional coordination, expanding access to healthcare career pathways, and supporting the launch and facilitation of key Alliance subcommittees.

Inspire Wisconsin, a Sheboygan-based statewide organization whose mission is to provide meaningful career-based learning experiences for students in Wisconsin, supports the Alliance’s healthcare career exploration programming. Its involvement ensures alignment with existing education and employer initiatives, along with facilitating partner outreach. Inspire Wisconsin’s involvement also solidifies that Alliance activities complement – rather than duplicate – ongoing regional efforts.

Among Alliance work-program priorities, Healthcare Workforce Solutions centers on addressing critical workforce shortages through innovative recruitment and retention strategies. Next Generation Engagement focuses on expanding career exploration opportunities for students, while creating pathways that inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

For those already working in the healthcare industry, Clinical Excellence provides high-quality clinical learning experiences, fosters strong partnerships with healthcare facilities and enhances preceptor support and training.

The Alliance has established recurring virtual meetings of its four standing subcommittees to ensure consistency, engagement and progress across focus areas. The Steering Committee, led by New North’s Deschane, guides strategy, alignment and grant oversight.

The Healthcare Career Exploration & (K-12) Pathways Committee, with support from Inspire Wisconsin, focuses on K-12 career awareness, employer engagement and alignment of school-based initiatives across the region. It meets from 12-1 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.

The Healthcare Talent Attraction, Development & Retention Committee, led by Hutchinson, centers around regional recruitment strategies, workforce retention, unified messaging, and partner-identified talent priorities. It meets at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

The Clinical Services & Engagement Committee, also led by Hutchinson, focuses on expanding and improving clinical placements, addressing barriers, and strengthening coordination between education and healthcare partners.

Those seeking to become involved with the NEW Healthcare Alliance can express their interest through the NEW Healthcare Alliance New Member Form. Expertise and passion for the healthcare industry is welcome from healthcare professionals, educators, organizational leaders and community leaders, among others.

Deschane, along with New North Industry Alliances Director Jason Mathwig, will provide an overview of the organization’s industry alliances, including the NEW Healthcare Alliance, as part of the afternoon program at the upcoming New North Summit, June 9 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

The NEW Healthcare Alliance also is holding an in-person strategic symposium on August 5, from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Culver Family Welcome Center on the UW Oshkosh campus.

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New North, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit, regional economic development corporationfostering collaboration among private and public sector leaders throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, known as the New North region. The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally around talent development, brand promotion and business development, signifying the collective economic power behind the 18 counties. The counties include Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago. www.thenewnorth.com