ImPowerQ's 'Heroes to Healthcare Summit' provides a path forward for Healthcare Experien

Attended by senior executives from leading healthcare employers, successful veterans whom attended prior versions of this ImPowerQ development program and innovators in the DFW healthcare industry, The Heroes to Healthcare Summit validated that the designed strategy is an outstanding path forward to address both veteran underemployment challenges and healthcare industry talent shortage. ​

Attendees included: Texas Health Physicians Group, Baylor Scott and White, Thomas Marshall Group, MMC Group, Access Healthcare, Methodist Health, JPSHealth Network, Children's Health and VeriTex Spine as well as a senior representative from the US Department of Labor and Professor Dr. Cristian Lieneck from Texas State University.

Of the healthcare employers present, the total number of current open positions in the DFW region totaled 4,332. Of the 4,332 nearly 100 would be potential roles for veterans graduating from Heroes to Healthcare.

Ceremonial Signing of ImPowerQ’s Apprenticeship Program with Department of Labor

During this meeting, the Department of Labor announced that the ImPowerQ Associates Heroes to Healthcare program has been approved as a National Registered Apprenticeship. “This is one of only a few healthcare business related apprenticeships nationally and the only one of this kind with a focus on healthcare experienced veterans”, says Samina Hooda, Co-founder and President of ImPowerQ. This designation provides outstanding opportunities for employers and veteran employees to maximize performance by having the financial support through the GIBill and a well-defined two-year development plan to include leadership workshops for nonveteran hiring managers to learn to maximize veteran talent. “Essentially employers get to hire high caliber, trained and certified talent at nearly 60% of market rate while providing comparable active duty pay to veteran apprentice.” says Dave Gregorio, Co-founder and Executive Director of Social Impact at ImPowerQ.

Business merits of Heroes to Healthcare

Of all the executives gathered from the many leading healthcare employers in DFW, some very notable comments were made regarding this outstanding veteran initiative. Shon Conine, CEO Veritex Spine stated: “When I’m looking for employees, I don’t want the box. I need individuals that can think outside the box. And veterans are ideal candidates because they already do that. They see the bigger picture." And Mr. JR. Thomas, Co Managing Partner Thomas Marshall Group whom previously was the CEO of Irving Texas based MedSynergies recently acquired by Optum, a United Healthcare Group division said "When we implemented this program, EBITDA was around 20% and in 2016 it was at 36%. Proven results"

John Kuznar, a leader at the US DOL Apprenticeship division provided everyone with insights on the positive implications of a Registered Apprenticeship strategy: "Studies have shown that you get $1.47 for every $1 spent for companies that actually implement apprenticeship."

An advisory board member and respected professor in the field of healthcare administration as well as an Army medical corps veteran, Dr. Cristian Lieneck provided outstanding validation by stating "This program provides the bridge to marketable competencies and future lifelong learning. It provides a path to meaningful employment today while instilling confidence to pursue post-secondary education in the future."

Retired Air Force Col. Don Taylor, Director of Southwestern Health Resources Integration was very engaged and clearly excited about the Heroes to Healthcare initiative and saw the benefit to UT Southwestern by saying "The program aligns perfectly with what we are looking for."

Clearly, ImPowerQ has designed a solution that does turn the two national challenges of healthcare talent to fill jobs and healthcare experienced veteran’s being significantly underemployed, into one great opportunity.