Taking the Pulse: a Health Care and Life Sciences Podcast

Hosts Heather and Lauren are joined by Leslie Isenhour, Dean of Biotechnologies and North Carolina BioNetwork Capstone Center at Wake Tech Community College. With the growing demand for life sciences talent in North Carolina, Dean Isenhour shares how Wake Take is preparing the community through customized training programs, apprenticeships, and early exposure at the high school level. We discuss what draws major companies to the region and how community colleges partner with industry to close skill gaps, as well as the role of workforce development in supporting continued growth in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Tune in to hear how education, infrastructure, and community investment come together to build a strong and sustainable talent pipeline in North Carolina!

Recorded at the SCbio Annual Conference, hosts Heather and Lauren welcome John Balchunas, Workforce Director at the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, known as NIIMBL. John shares insight into how the life sciences industry is approaching workforce and talent development at a national level. The conversation explores challenges facing the biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, the growing influence of automation and AI, and why skills based hiring and regional cooperation will play an important role in building a sustainable talent pipeline. Tune in for a look at how organizations are working to future-proof the workforce behind advanced manufacturing and life sciences innovation!