 
"Our mission is to identify health inequities and their root causes and promote equitable opportunities to be healthy."
Dear Esteemed Readers
I am thrilled to share the official "Choose Virginia" newsletter from the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Health Equity. Despite the unprecedented challenges we have faced as a result of the pandemic, we have found innovative ways to provide compassionate and equitable technical assistance and customer service to our stakeholders.
In our upcoming issues, we will showcase our activities, successes, stories, workforce and staffing updates, important events, and upcoming programs. Our workforce programs have grown significantly since 2014, thanks to the unwavering support of our exhaustive list of stakeholders and the Commonwealth of Virginia, who have helped us improve access to care in Virginia. Our objective is to place diverse and qualified primary care providers in underserved communities in Virginia, retain them where they are needed the most, and ultimately make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation.
I am proud to report that our efforts have yielded positive outcomes. For instance, we have implemented various programs that significantly reduce health disparities among underserved populations. We have also collaborated with multiple organizations to provide vital services, such as mental health, dental, and primary care, to those in need.
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to this newsletter, especially Nikita Busic, Newsletter Committee Lead, Stacy Davis, and Riah Proctor, who served on the newsletter committee. Without their unwavering efforts, this newsletter would not have been possible.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in our work.
Best regards,
Olivette Burroughs, MBA, HCM, PHIC
Statewide Health Workforce Manager
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Welcome to the Workforce Team
The Workforce team would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Health Workforce Coordinator Valencia Hines!
Incentive Programs
Virginia Conrad 30 Waiver Program & ARC
September 1, 2023- August 31, 2023
Virginia State Loan Repayment Program
January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024
National Interest Waiver
Year Round
HHS Exchange Visitor Program.
Year Round
Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Nursing Scholarship
September 1, 2023- November 30, 2023
Nurse Educator Nursing Scholarship
September 1, 2023- November 30, 2023
Long-Term Care Facility Nursing Scholarship (LPN, RN)
September 1, 2023- November 30, 2023
Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship (CNA)
Year Round
Long-Term Care Facility Nursing Scholarship (CNA)
Year Round
Virginia Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program
October 1, 2023- April 15, 2024
Virginia Nurse Preceptor Incentive Program
Year Round
Virginia Dental Loan Repayment Program
2024 dates to be announced
Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship (LPN/RN)
February 1, 2024 – April 1, 2024
Events, Career Fairs, and Other News
Workforce Events
The Workforce Incentive team has been on the move, actively engaging with various stakeholders and communities to drive positive change in the field of healthcare.
   September proved to be a busy month for the team as they attended the Virginia Public Health Association Annual Conference, held on September 21st-22nd and the Virginia Community Healthcare Association 2023 Annual Membership Meeting and Conference from September 27th to 29th. Here, they collaborated with fellow healthcare professionals to explore new avenues for community healthcare and reinforce their dedication to serving the people of Virginia.
Additionally, the Workforce Incentive team joined the Governor Youngkin's Partnership for Petersburg One-Year Celebration on September 27th, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare access and delivery. This event highlighted their collaboration with governmental bodies and local organizations, showcasing their commitment to creating a healthier future for all Virginians.
The team also participated in the ECPI Fall Career Fair on October 18th, where they engaged with potential applicants and provided information on the workforce incentive programs that VDH offers. The team's active participation in these events underscores their dedication to making a positive impact on healthcare accessibility, quality, and delivery in rural Virginia. Their continued efforts serve as a testament to their commitment to improving the overall well-being of the state's residents.
VNA & VNF Announce 2023 Champion of Nursing Award Recipients
The workforce team is proud to acknowledge and celebrate Olivette Burroughs, who was honored at the VNF Gala on September 9, 2023 as the 2023 Champion of Nursing Award recipient. Olivette, who serves as the Statewide Health Workforce Manager at the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Health Equity, has demonstrated remarkable dedication to the nursing profession. She has played a pivotal role in advancing the healthcare workforce and has been instrumental in shaping critical policies and resource allocation.
 Olivette's expertise in workforce development has greatly influenced our initiatives, leading to substantial investments in nursing workforce development. Her contributions have been invaluable in the creation of the Virginia Nursing Preceptor Incentive Program, the enhancement of funding for nursing scholarships and loan repayment programs, and the development of a groundbreaking statewide "Earn As You Learn" program for nursing schools and healthcare facilities. Her leadership at the Virginia Department of Health has been instrumental in securing well over $50 million in proposed investments for nursing workforce development initiatives in the 2023 budget bill.
Congratulations to Olivette Burroughs on her well-deserved recognition with the prestigious 2023 Champion of Nursing Award!
*Total Number of Selected Applicants: 37
  In 2022, the total amount awarded for SLRP recipients was $1,308,890. Funding was distributed by organization type and discipline. For-Profit Health Facilities received $394,000 and Federally Qualified Health Centers received $214,000 of the total funding.
  Private-Non Profit Health Facilities were awarded $192,000 and Public/State Institutions were awarded $508,890
Mental Health Matters- Success Story
I didn’t tell my spouse that I applied for the VSLRP. We have been struggling to pay off over $100k in student loans since I got my masters in 2012 to be a counselor. Having gone through a traumatic premature birth and my own mental health journey, I knew I wanted to work with the underserved population at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. I was hired in 2013, and never looked back. When the VSLRP opportunity arose, I was excited to think that my years working with those who need it most might be noticed. I was also excited to see, instead of a lottery prize, the VSLRP was a merit-based award that would take volunteer work and leadership roles into consideration. In Spring of 2020, I was awarded a $40k repayment from the Commonwealth of Virginia. You should have seen my spouse’s face when I surprised him! This makes such a huge difference to our family, especially with our daughter almost at college-age herself. It feels so good to know that my work matters and that I have support from Virginia to continue providing opportunity for others to succeed.
Thank you.
Rebecca Kaderli
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    The main goal of this initiative is to increase the number of healthcare providers working in underserved areas. To achieve this, facilities/ambassadors will be responsible for providing information packets to healthcare providers who are program recipients. These packets will contain all the necessary information about the community and the facility they will be serving. The idea is to make the providers feel welcome in the area and encourage them to stay for the long term, beyond their service obligation. The facilities/ ambassadors involved in this initiative will be tasked with developing a new package or using an existing one to ensure that the information provided is relevant, accurate, and valuable to the providers. They will, with information from VDH, follow the designed plan to welcome the providers to the community. This plan will include activities and events to help the providers get to know the community and its residents.
 In addition to the information packets, the facilities/ambassadors will collaborate with county administrators and other stakeholders to create a comprehensive welcome package. This package will include all the information the providers need about the area, including housing, transportation, and local amenities. The idea is to make the transition as smooth as possible so that the providers can focus on their work and provide the best possible care to the community. This initiative is a collaborative effort between healthcare facilities, ambassadors, county administrators and other stakeholders to attract and retain healthcare providers in underserved areas. Through the provision of relevant information and a warm welcome, the hope is that providers will feel valued and supported, leading to improved healthcare outcomes for the community.
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