By Dr. Marcy McCarty, Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, Elizabethtown College
At Elizabethtown College’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies, we believe that cultivating transformative, mutually beneficial partnerships within our region creates lasting impact and fuels workforce development.
A key part of that commitment to serving as a driver of statewide economic growth is through collaboration with partners to tailor curriculum that meets future workforce needs, while helping organizations invest in their most valuable asset: their people.
The most recent example is the launch of our Essential Skills Workshop for Healthcare Professionals. Developed in partnership with the Lancaster Chamber, the six-course, fully online workshop is delivered through Etown Edge, the College’s microcredential platform, and available to both chamber and non-chamber members.
The program was created in direct response to needs identified by local healthcare employers. While traditional educational offerings prepare individuals for the clinical aspects of their roles, employers identified a need for stronger communication, teamwork, accountability, conflict resolution, professionalism, and patient-centered care skills.
Earlier in my career, I worked as a nuclear medicine technologist and later helped educate healthcare professionals. I saw how much a patient’s experience can depend on the moments around clinical care: a clear explanation, a clinician willing to listen, or a team working through a difficult situation together. That experience is one reason I care about making these skills accessible to people already doing demanding work in healthcare.
Designed specifically for working healthcare professionals, the self-paced program helps participants become more effective team members, contribute to a positive, high-quality patient experience, and build skills that support their own career growth and advancement.
Supervisors and team leaders can further strengthen these skills across their organizations through a comprehensive leadership package that offers a practical coaching toolkit with module summaries, conversation prompts, observable behaviors checklists, and booster activities.
Through support from the Direct Care Worker Job Quality grant, this program is being offered at no cost to home health aides, personal care assistants/patient care assistants, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and individuals currently enrolled in CNA training programs who are employed by Lancaster Chamber member organizations.
The Essential Skills Workshop is a powerful example of what can result when higher education and community partners work together to identify and respond to evolving workforce needs. It also reflects the broader approach we take within Etown’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies: meeting organizations where they are, understanding the skills their employees need, and developing flexible educational solutions designed around those needs.
Whether through customized professional development, microcredentials, certificates, or degree programs, we seek to create partnerships that provide meaningful opportunities for employees while helping organizations recruit, develop, and retain a skilled workforce.
We are proud to continue our partnership with the Lancaster Chamber to help make professional development more accessible while supporting the people and organizations that contribute to a strong healthcare sector throughout our local community.
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