On May 21, Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) hosted state leaders, including Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin Figueroa, alongside regional healthcare partners for a collaborative roundtable discussion focused on the future of rural health in Southwest Virginia.
The visit also included a firsthand tour of VHCC’s clinical simulation labs and healthcare classrooms, where state officials and community partners saw where our students master essential clinical skills before entering the regional workforce.
During the event, Governor Spanberger announced a $127,500 Rural Health Transformation grant awarded to VHCC. This critical funding will support the college’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program to help meet healthcare demands across our communities. This collaboration underscores VHCC’s deep commitment to providing accessible, high-quality training that directly aligns with local industry needs, preparing our Licensed Practical Nursing students for strong careers, and benefiting the entire regional economy.
VHCC President Dr. Adam Hutchison emphasized the college's dedication to this regional effort:
"We know that one of the best ways to strengthen rural healthcare is to train providers locally and help them build careers in the communities they call home. This investment will allow us to expand opportunities for students pursuing healthcare careers and help address critical workforce shortages across Southwest Virginia."