FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The healthcare industry in the Central Valley faces an ongoing challenge: a significant shortage of healthcare professionals. According to recent statistics, the San Joaquin Valley only has “47 physicians per 100,000 residents”, one of the lowest ratios in California. In response to this pressing need, San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) and Carrington College have joined forces to better prepare students for the growing demand for healthcare workers.
Nick Gomez, President of San Joaquin Valley College, explains, “We have this wonderful opportunity to bring focus to each one of the prospective colleges.” Starting this spring, Carrington College will take over all nursing and allied healthcare programs, while SJVC will focus exclusively on trade, technical, and business courses. This strategic realignment allows both institutions to specialize and provide students with high-quality, career-focused training tailored to the region’s workforce needs.
“The need is deep right across the allied healthcare field,” Gomez notes. The San Joaquin Valley is underserved in terms of the number of healthcare providers and skilled professionals across a range of healthcare disciplines. As part of its commitment to meeting the demand, SJVC has been a major contributor to the healthcare workforce, graduating a significant portion of California’s respiratory therapists— “a quarter of all respiratory therapists in the state in 2019”.
Through this collaboration, both institutions aim to tackle the shortage head-on by offering relevant programs that prepare students for immediate employment. The partnership between Carrington College and SJVC ensures that students will receive hands-on training that directly translates into jobs within the healthcare field.
SJVC, Fresno Campus President Stacy Elenes, adds, “We are definitely focused on higher-quality education, and our students here are career-ready once they graduate.” The collaboration will not alter the hands-on experience that students receive. According to Elenes, students participate in crucial practical training, including “blood draws, injections, infection control, vital signs, and assisting physicians.”
After completing their programs, students earn certificates or associate’s degrees, depending on their field of study. With both colleges focusing on specialized programs, students will graduate with a clear pathway into the workforce, equipped with the skills and qualifications needed to meet the growing healthcare demands in the Central Valley.
“The meetings we have become aligned, and the people are aligned, and then ultimately the students benefit because they get the best focus from within that program domain,” said Gomez.
The collaboration between SJVC and Carrington College represents a significant step toward addressing the healthcare shortage in the San Joaquin Valley and providing students with the education and training they need to make a lasting impact on their communities.
link
