The nonprofit Claude Moore Opportunities has launched a statewide initiative to help veterans transition into the civilian health care workforce after leaving military service.
The initiative will focus on developing career pathways and removing barriers to employment for military medics and hospital corpsmen who leave the service with significant experience and training in health care but may lack the credentials and licenses required to work in civilian health care, according to a Claude Moore news release.
Claude Moore is launching the veterans employment initiative with assistance from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, which has provided a $10,000 grant to support a statewide stakeholder summit on Feb. 21 in Richmond to identify barriers faced by military medical professionals as they enter the civilian health care workforce.
Claude Moore and partners aim to develop a strategic plan to match veterans’ skills with career opportunities and credentials.
“Virginia has two workforce challenges that are serious but not new: We don’t have enough health care workers to serve our citizens, and our well-trained veterans face unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles when seeking employment, especially in the health sciences,” Dr. Bill Hazel, CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities, said in the release. “As part of our statewide work to address Virginia’s health care workforce shortage, Claude Moore will work with partners around the state to improve the way Virginia taps into this incredible talent pool.”
Hazel thanked Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation’s financial support in the endeavor.
Virginia faces a growing health care workforce shortage, particularly in positions such as nurses, technicians, therapists and aides. According to a comprehensive 2023 study for the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, 102 of Virginia’s 133 localities are federally designated “Health Professional Shortage Areas,” and 93 localities are “Mental Healthcare Professional Shortage Areas,” meaning about one-third of Virginians live in a community without enough primary and behavioral health care providers.
Launched in 2024, Claude Moore Opportunities is a new nonprofit focused on raising and distributing philanthropic funds to support regional and collaborative efforts to expand Virginia’s health care workforce and create family-sustaining career opportunities. The nonprofit was launched by the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.