Health Career Connection

Health Career Connection (HCC) is a national force for health workforce development that builds generations of health leaders and professionals who are from and reflect the communities we serve and have the capabilities and commitment to improve health for all. By partnering with local educational institutions, community-based nonprofits, and other healthcare organizations, HCC matches students from many backgrounds – including low-income to middle-income, first-generation college, and those from medically underserved communities – with paid, hands-on internships and professional development that lead to high-demand, living-wage careers.

Beyond the internship program, HCC supports its 5,800 alumni to advance as health leaders and professionals and connects them to employers seeking to strengthen their workforce. To address broader systemic challenges, HCC partners with public and private organizations to identify regional health workforce gaps and develop coordinated program, policy, and investment solutions.

GreenLight launched HCC in Denver to address multiple needs. Local college students and recent graduates face continued challenges in securing jobs that pay enough to afford the rising cost of living and that lead to professional careers. Health is a high-growth, high-need sector in Colorado. Across all 21 of the state’s health regions, the workforce of primary care, behavioral health, and mental health workers is insufficient to meet resident needs. HCC can serve as a vital bridge, connecting local talent to key vacancies.

Results are strong across HCC’s regional sites and existing alumni network. 71% of interns receive job and extended internship offers from their host employers. 87% of alumni reported that HCC strengthened their professional network, 87% viewed themselves as health leaders, and 82% have completed a graduate degree in the health professions.

Over the next four years, the Denver-based program will scale to support 215 interns. It is anticipated that 80% of Denver alumni will enter high-growth career pathways, increasing their earning power and ensuring long-term economic mobility.