Department of Workforce Development

Thursday, May 23, 2002 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Reinert

News Media Contact Christopher Marschman 608/261-6705 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Contact: Teresa Weidemann-Smith, Dept. of Workforce Development, (608) 266-3999
Deb Mahaffey, Wisconsin Technical College System, (608) 266-2302

MEMBERS OF HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Jennifer Reinert and Wisconsin Technical College System President Dr. Richard Carpenter announced today the members of the new Health Care Worker Shortage Committee. The committee, created last month by Governor McCallum, will be charged with recommending ways to alleviate the shortage of health care workers across the state.

The 24 member committee will have many objectives which include: identifying ways to encourage people to enter health care fields; reviewing state health care education programs; and recommending changes to current state policies that create a barrier for people who might want to enter the health care industry. Assisting the committee will be several subcommittees comprised of individuals from various backgrounds.

The Governor announced the creation of the Health Care Worker Shortage Committee at the Wisconsin Technical College System Health Care Solutions Conference April 29-30. The conference was well attended by representatives from 14 supporting partner organizations, including the Department of Workforce Development; Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association; Wisconsin Nurses Association; the University of Wisconsin System; and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

"It’s important that we not let the synergy from this conference slip away," said Carpenter. "We have an excellent opportunity to collectively address this serious health care worker shortage in Wisconsin," he added.

"I am confident the committee members we have selected will come up with innovative solutions to the challenges Wisconsin faces in finding workers to fill the job vacancies that exist in the health care industry," Reinert said.

The committee members include:

• Jennifer Reinert, Secretary, Department of Workforce Development
• Dr. Richard Carpenter, President and State Director, Wisconsin Technical College System
• Phyllis Dube, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Services
• Elizabeth Burmaster, Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction

ADD ONE

HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE COMMITTEE

• Diane Peters, Vice President of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association
• Thomas Moore, Executive Director, Wisconsin Health Care Association
• Dr. Jeffrey Rafn, President, Wisconsin Technical College Presidents Association
• Gina Dennik-Champion, Executive Director, Wisconsin Nurses Association
• Dr. Cora Marrett, Chief Academic Officer, University of Wisconsin System
• John Sauer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Inc.
• Dorothy Winder, Madison East High School
• Paul Nelson, Vice President Public Policy, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• J. Michael Borden, Representative, Council on Workforce Investment and Wisconsin Workforce Development Association
• Norma Tirado, President, Wisconsin Society Healthcare Human Resources
• Jason Kay, Government Affairs, American Association of Retired People

• Mark O’Connell, Executive Director, Wisconsin Counties Association
• Debbie Timko, President, Service Employees International Union Local 150
• Candice Owley, President, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals
• Irene Warwick, Secretary, Personal Care Workers Association, Waushara County Department of Social Services
• John Botticelli, Vice President Human Resources, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield
• Georgia Cameron, Black Nurses Association
• Bobbe Teigen, Administrator, Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital
• Sue Ela, Senior Clinical Vice-President, Aurora Health Care
• Dr. Jeff Thompson, CEO, Gundersen Lutheran Hospital

The committee will meet for the first time in early June.

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