About

The Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative unites healthcare employers and industry partners to develop innovative workforce solutions and respond to the emerging employment needs of our local sector. We work together to eliminate employment barriers, support a strong and qualified workforce, and hire directly from the communities where we work and live. By focusing on action-oriented solutions, we aim to support a more inclusive healthcare workforce in Chicagoland.

CHWC follows the employer-led, community-supported sector partnership model (What is a sector partnership?). Originally launched in October 2015 with grant support from JPMorgan Chase and led by Advocate Healthcare and the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, CHWC's membership now includes a dozen health and hospital systems and is overseen by a volunteer steering committee of employer representatives. They are supported by 20+ strategic partners throughout Chicagoland.

Together, CHWC partners execute research projects, host peer learning events, work in committees, and launch pilot programs. Find out more about our current partners and projects below.

OUR MISSION

The Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative unites employers and industry partners to support an inclusive healthcare workforce, provide accessibility for unemployed and underemployed populations, and develop innovative responses to the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.

Education &
Training

Bridging the gap by uniting a variety of partners across the healthcare industry

Local &
Targeted Hiring

Focusing recruitment efforts in areas with higher concentrations of unemployment

Retention &
Career Pathways

Supporting career pathways and opportunities to advance for employees

Current Projects

CHWC leads collaborative projects designed to influence systems-level change that lead to better jobs, equitable access to career pathways, and a robust, supported workforce. Projects include research, advocacy, direct training, and outreach. 

Learn More

eMPLOYER pARTNERS

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Strategic pARTNERS

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Steering Committee

Michele Smith (Chair)

Director, Workforce & Team Member Development

Advocate Aurora Health

Mandee Polonsky

Director of External Partnerships

Northwestern Medicine

Tasha Gill

Associate Director, Diversity & Workforce Initiatives

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Ashley Casiello

Senior Consultant, Workforce Development

University of Chicago Medicine

Susan Plattner

Manager, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health

Rukiya Curvey-Johnson

Vice President, Community Health Equity - Executive Director, Rush Education & Career Hub

Rush University Health System