The AAMC-led Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) held a June 3 congressional briefing entitled, “Securing the Nation's Health Workforce: The Critical Role of the HRSA Title VII and Title VIII Programs.” The briefing highlighted the importance of continued funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, outlining how these programs work to address health workforce shortages and ensure access to care.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined the briefing to provide remarks, which detailed the impact of the HRSA Title VII and VIII programs in developing the health career pathways and the delivery of specialized programs for rural and underserved areas in Alaska and across the country. Murkowski is a sponsor of the AAMC-endorsed EMPOWER for Health (S. 4110), along with Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), which would reauthorize the Title VII programs for five years [refer to Washington Highlights, March 20].
The panelists shared how the Title VII and VIII programs successfully train, recruit, and retain health providers across the country and the importance and impact of the programs in their respective communities. Panelists included Andrea Anderson, MD, MEd, associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Abby Adler Mandel, PhD, assistant professor and director of clinical training at Catholic University of America; Jessica Colburn, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine, Geriatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Donna Grant-Mills, DDS, MEd, RDH, associate dean for student affairs and admissions at Howard University College of Dentistry; and George Zangaro PhD, RN, professor and associate director of the DNP Post-Masters programs at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
In addition to underscoring the key role of the Title VII and VIII programs, the panelists also emphasized the need for continued and increased funding for the programs. For fiscal year 2027 the HPNEC urges Congress to provide at least $1.590 billion for the programs [refer to Washington Highlights, April 3].
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) addresses briefing attendees on the importance of Title VII and Title VIII programs.
Pictured from left to right: Briefing panelists Abby Adler Mandel, PhD; George Zangaro PhD, RN, FAAN; Andrea Anderson, MC, MEd; Donna Grant-Mills, DDS, MEd, RDH; Jessica Colbum, MD; and Andrea Price-Carter, AAMC Government Relations Director and HPNEC Executive Director.