Episode 340- Building Michigan’s Healthcare Workforce. With Russ Kavalhuna

Healthcare workforce shortages are not a single problem with a single fix, they are a pipeline problem. I’m joined by Russ Kavalhuna, President of Western Michigan University, to talk about what it looks like when a community decides to grow its own talent instead of hoping someone else moves in. From physicians and nurses to lab techs, radiology techs, OT, and PT, we dig into the roles that keep care available in real life, not just on paper. We get specific about what Western Michigan University already has in place: a strong base of allied health education and a cutting-edge medical school, WMED, that attracts thousands of applicants for just 88 seats. Then we explore an ambitious idea that could change the math for Southwest Michigan: a healthcare talent pipeline that starts as early as eighth grade, moves students through high school and higher education, and connects them to local clinical training and employment. The Kalamazoo Promise adds a rare advantage by reducing tuition costs, making healthcare education more reachable for local families. We also zoom out to the regional ecosystem. Kalamazoo’s two independent hospital systems, Bronson and Beacon, collaborate with the university and medical school, creating a foundation that employers care about when deciding where to invest and where to recruit. And because Michigan’s population is aging, we talk about healthy aging research, prevention, and why keeping people out of acute care can improve quality of life while easing staffing pressure. Finally, we tackle policy: what incentives could actually keep graduates in Michigan after they train here? We discuss options like student debt relief, down payment support, and employer-friendly tools that help new clinicians put down roots. If you care about healthcare access, medical education, and smart workforce development, this conversation will give you a blueprint worth debating. Subscribe, share the show with someone building in Michigan, and leave a review with your take on what would make you stay. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!