Expanding Opportunities: Pathways for the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

This week on Your CUE, we’re diving into a conversation that represents something truly groundbreaking for our community. In “Expanding Opportunities: Creating the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals,” Jared and Tiffany are joined by Dr. Rachel Pokrandt, President & CEO of Umpqua Community College; Russell J. Woolley, Market President of CHI Mercy Health; and Dr. Jay Richards, DO, Chief Medical Officer at Aviva Health, to explore a first-of-its-kind partnership in Oregon between Roseburg Schools and Umpqua Community College, alongside strong collaboration from regional healthcare leaders helping connect students directly to career opportunities in the medical field. Together, these organizations are trailblazing a new model for what education, healthcare, and workforce development can look like when community partners come together around a shared vision for the future. Through innovative medical career pathways, students are gaining access to real-world opportunities, college credit, industry connections, and direct pathways into family-wage healthcare careers, all while helping strengthen the future of healthcare in Douglas County. This conversation is bigger than a program. It’s about creating opportunity, investing in students, and building a stronger, more abundant future for our entire community. It’s bold. It’s innovative. And it’s happening right here in Douglas County.