Concorde Career Colleges has a mission to prepare committed students for successful employment in rewarding healthcare professions. With 17 campuses across eight states, it is well placed to play a pivotal role in filling the growing demand for healthcare jobs across many essential sectors.

The U.S. is projected to have 1.8 million annual healthcare job openings on average through 2032. This urgent need for essential healthcare workers is impacted by an expected population growth of 25 million people each decade, the increase of people over the age of 65 who are retiring, thus needing healthcare services, and burnout from the pandemic. In fact, recent research by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing estimates that 100,000 registered nurses and 33,811 licensed practical/vocational nurses left the profession during the pandemic and demand for nurses is only projected to rise.

In addition to nursing, there is rising demand for skilled professionals across the healthcare landscape. The need for respiratory therapists, for example, has a projected job growth of 13% nationwide between 2022-2032. In states where Concorde Career Colleges has numerous campuses like California and Texas, the demand for respiratory therapists is skyrocketing— with a projected job growth of 27.8%and 32.7% respectively over that same period. Incidentally, these states also have the highest Hispanic population in the nation.

While workforce demand underscores the need to recruit all demographics to the field, it is far from the only reason why we must increase representation in healthcare. For example, according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, 44% of Hispanic adults cited communication problems from language or cultural differences as a major reason for having  generally worse health outcomes than other adults in the U.S..

Beyond overcoming language barriers, greater representation  would increase the overall quality of healthcare for minority groups, making it easier for patients to trust and feel understood by their healthcare providers. Research supports that this similarity in the ethnic background of healthcare providers and patients can lead to better outcomes across the board. 

The encouraging news here is that higher education can congruently address these issues. As summed up beautifully by Aileen Paez, physical therapy assistant program director at the Concorde Career College–Aurora campus:

“I believe those of us who are of Hispanic and Latinx heritage have an opportunity to make a positive difference in encouraging people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to explore healthcare careers and to leverage their language skills to benefit others. Collectively, we can bridge gaps in healthcare and move effectively forward in addressing healthcare disparities. I do not see this situation as a negative one, but as a positive opportunity.”

The role of educators in attracting and engaging new healthcare workers 

As educators, we play a critical role in helping to diversify tomorrow’s healthcare workforce. At Concorde Career Colleges, our mission is to prepare students for  employment in a healthcare profession through high-caliber training, real-world experience, and student-centered support. This mission is supported by three foundational pillars of education: student-centered, achievement-driven, and community-based. Building on these three pillars, we believe the culture we build in the classroom and on campus is fundamental to student success. 

With increasing public debate about the value of a traditional 4-year degree, educators have an opportunity to spotlight high-caliber healthcare training programs that can get graduates out into the workforce much quicker. At Concorde, our programs take anywhere from 2 months for our phlebotomy technician diploma to 17-22 months for associate degree programs in fields like dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, or surgical technology, depending on transfer credits and course schedules. These options open pathways for a diverse range of students.

It is also effective for career colleges to engage employers that are seeking workers to fill in-demand roles. Many of these employers provide students they hire with financial support, externships or mentorship, and the added security of having a job offer waiting for them after they complete training.

Fostering community through representation and student engagement

Research from New America shows minority students performed far better in outcomes such as grades, credits received, and course dropout rates, when their instructor was of the same race or ethnicity.

Diversifying representation among faculty and academic staff is a priority for our institution, with our current academic faculty and staff closely matching the demographics of our students. For example, among those who self-identify, 24% of our students and 24% of our instructors are Black; 8% of our students and 19% of our instructors are Hispanic/Latino.

While our curriculum is taught in English, we know that Hispanic parents and grandparents play a key role in choosing a school. When a bilingual family comes on campus, we encourage tours with a bilingual rep. Faculty and staff who are bilingual wear buttons that say “Preguntame” (“Ask me”) to identify themselves.

Faculty leaders are passionate role models for our students, understand the importance of representation, and are committed to their holistic wellbeing. This emphasis truly fosters a community that prioritizes student success.

Community-based activities can provide students with real-world experience to extend their learning, while serving the community with care and resources in a meaningful way. Student Affairs teams at each campus often organize community activities based on what students are passionate about, cultivating leadership and decision-making. 

Each of our campuses with a dental hygiene program has a dental hygiene clinic, which offers low-cost preventive dental care. The clinics provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to give back to the community, while earning the clinical competencies and real-world experience they need to graduate.

Filling workforce gaps with meaningful representation

Addressing the critical shortage of healthcare workers in the United States requires a multifaceted approach that emphasizes diversity, accessibility, and practical training.

Institutions like Concorde Career Colleges are at the forefront of this effort, providing innovative and inclusive educational pathways that cater to a diverse student body. By offering accelerated, high-quality programs and fostering an inclusive environment that mirrors the demographics of the community, Concorde equips students with the necessary skills and ensures that the healthcare workforce of tomorrow is both competent and representative. 

Let’s use this workforce shortage and the need for a more equitable, representative healthcare industry as a positive opportunity to work collectively toward meaningful change.

About the author

Kevin Prehn is president of Concorde Career Colleges, where he leads a dedicated team across eight states, preparing tomorrow’s healthcare professionals for diverse, in-demand careers. Kevin’s transformative leadership recently secured Concorde the prestigious 2023 School of the Year recognition from the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools.