MCW’s Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment funding to help meet talent needs
NEW NORTH, October 1, 2025 – New North Inc., the regional economic development corporation serving the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, and its burgeoning NEW Healthcare Alliance have received a major grant from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to help build a durable, robust healthcare workforce into the future.
Funded in the amount of $250,000 over two years, the grant begins on Nov. 1, 2025, and includes a partnership with the MCW research team.
“We thank the Medical College of Wisconsin for the tremendous boost this grant will give to the efforts of the NEW Healthcare Alliance as it looks to build a strong, resilient healthcare ecosystem within Northeast Wisconsin,” says Dr. Ashwani Bhatia, a New North board member and CEO/Chief Medical Officer of BayCare Clinic. “We are bringing industry and community partners together to strengthen the talent pipeline through enhanced career pathways. Through creation of a robust healthcare workforce, we can meet the care needs of our region into the future.”
The NEW Healthcare Alliance represents a collaborative effort to address the most pressing challenges facing healthcare in our area. The coalition of healthcare professionals, organizations and community partners in the New North is dedicated to strengthening the region’s healthcare ecosystem.
Initial efforts will focus on four critical areas:
- Establishing a regional healthcare alliance: Strengthening coordination and advocacy efforts across the New North healthcare community.
- Attracting and retaining the healthcare workforce: Developing innovative strategies to address workforce shortages and support healthcare professionals in the region.
- Expanding career exploration for secondary and post-secondary students: Enhancing opportunities to engage and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals, including a regional healthcare career expo.
- Continuing high-quality clinical placements: Ensuring strong partnerships for student training and professional development that benefit both learners and healthcare facilities.
“The New North region has strong momentum in building out its next-generation healthcare workforce,” says Rebecca Deschane, vice president of talent development for New North Inc. “The unified, efficient approach of the NEW Healthcare Alliance reduces duplication and maximizes resources. Collaboration between industry and community partners provides the opportunity to meet the demand for skilled healthcare professionals, particularly in the rural areas of Northeast Wisconsin.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), 2023 vacancy rates across healthcare professions have stabilized but remain concerning, particularly for registered nurses whose vacancy rate reached 10.1% in 2022. The workforce shortage often is more pronounced in rural areas, leading to disparities in healthcare services.
Anyone interested in joining the NEW Healthcare Alliance can find more information on the New North website at Healthcare Alliances in the New North.
