2025 Health Workforce

Annual Luncheon

Celebrating Collaboration in Healthcare Workforce Development

Friday, June 27, 2025   |   Albany Marriott

Event Summary

Health WorkForce New York, alongside its partners in the Health Workforce Collaborative, hosted its Annual Luncheon with over 100 attendees representing a wide range of healthcare workforce stakeholders. The event brought together employers, educators, policymakers, and community-based partners to celebrate collective progress and inspire continued collaboration.

Richard Merchant, CEO of HWNY, opened the event with a warm welcome, emphasizing the importance of shared commitment and coordinated strategies in addressing systemic health workforce challenges. His remarks highlighted the power of partnerships in building a more resilient and inclusive workforce across New York State.

The afternoon featured a full agenda, including:

  • A vibrant Healthcare Expo and Networking Session with 19 partner vendor tables
  • A spotlight presentation on the Institute for Career Advancement in Medicine (ICAM) by Steven Frederick, VP of Institutional Advancement at Clinton Community College – SUNY
  • Presentation of scholarships to future healthcare professionals
  • The Collaborator of the Year Award, honoring outstanding partnership and impact
  • Closing remarks by Susan Arbetter, host of Capital Tonight on Spectrum News, who also emceed the event

The luncheon underscored the shared belief in what can be achieved through collective action and affirmed HWNY’s continued commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce statewide.

Quick Links

Scholarship Awards

The annual competitive scholarships are awarded to students who have completed at least one AHEC program, and who will be entering a medical or health professions program. This year’s four recipients delivered powerful acceptance speeches that spoke of the value of the AHEC programs, and support of the Boards of Directors.

L.Thomas Wolff, M.D.
Scholarship

Sika Ajagbe

Sike is a graduating senior at Westhill High School. She is the valedictorian of the Class of 2025 and serves as senior class president.

The Hazel Sanderson, Ed.D., R.N. Health Career Scholarship

Nidhi Patel

Nidhi is a recent graduate of the New York Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Program.

Bruce C. Potter Memorial Scholarship

Brooke Barr

Brooke, from Ogdensburg, NY, is an incoming freshman at Daemen University studying Physician Assistant Studies.

Bruce C. Potter Memorial Scholarship

Scotlyn LaClair

Scotlyn, from Ellenburg Center, NY, is an incoming freshman nursing student at Clinton Community College.
Learn more about our scholarships and awardees in the Event Program >

Collaborator of the Year Award

The Board of Directors of the Health Workforce Collaborative presented the Collaborator of the Year Award to an individual or organization whose leadership, partnership, and engagement have meaningfully advanced healthcare workforce development in New York State.

The Health Workforce Collaborative is honored to present the 2025 Collaborator of the Year Award to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

As an integral part of its mission to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable New Yorkers and bolster diverse communities, the Foundation has provided exceptional leadership and support advancing healthcare workforce solutions across the state.

Notably, the Foundation recently launched a $51 million Nursing Initiative, empowering 13 safety-net hospitals to pursue national accreditation for nursing excellence through American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet recognition or Pathway to Excellence status. These initiatives, which strengthen nurse retention, reduce burnout, and expand nurse residency and virtual care programs, will support more than 6,500 nurses and positively impact over 7 million outpatient visits.

With strategic grants grounded in innovation, equity, and partnership, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has strengthened workforce pipelines, boosted diversity in healthcare careers, and addressed systemic workforce challenges. We deeply appreciate their vision and unwavering dedication to collaborative solutions that are transforming New York’s health workforce.

Photo Gallery

View some snapshots to get a glimpse of the memorable moments, engaging conversations, and smiles from the Annual Luncheon.

Thank you to everyone who attended and support the event. We look forward to seeing you all next year.

A special Thank You from our team and Boards of Directors to everyone who attended and helped make the day a huge success.

We look forward to seeing you all next year!

Ask about sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Health Workforce Annual Luncheon! 

Planning is already underway for next year’s event — with some exciting expansions in programming that will benefit health care employers as well as students and job seekers. Contact us today to learn how your organization can be involved.
[email protected]

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