There’s an inconvenient truth in the world of medicine today: There simply aren’t enough people to provide care and keep hospitals humming.

Minnesota is expected to have a shortfall of more than 5,000 registered nurses each year. And among health care careers—such as medical and nursing assistants, mental health providers, information technology professionals, lab and imaging technicians, respiratory therapists, and employees in housekeeping, nutrition services, security, and patient transport—the U.S. is expected to experience a shortage of 34 million people by 2026.

At M Health Fairview, the workforce development team is addressing this staggering shortage by thoughtfully recruiting, training, and retaining highly skilled health care employees who reflect Minnesota’s diverse communities.

First, the team partners with schools, nonprofit organizations, and other community groups to introduce health care to jobseekers who might not have considered a career in the field.

The team then works with candidates to learn about their interests and needs, and helps match them with a training program, entry-level job, or internship.

For example, the On Track program—a nursing assistant training initiative—is a popular entry point into health care.

M Health Fairview assists candidates by paying for the program and offering employment opportunities with benefits upon completion.

“The No. 1 thing we offer is a hands-on approach while working with individuals,” says Tanya Velishek, the manager of M Health Fairview workforce clinical partnerships. “We talk to them about what they want to do and equip them with the resources they need to succeed.”

Paid internships offer another introduction to health care careers, including roles not directly involved in patient care.

This is how Mary Yang, workforce community partnership specialist, discovered her passion for talent acquisition.

“I’d always been interested in working directly with patients, but I realized that there’s so much more happening behind the scenes that excites me,” she says. “I realized that was where I wanted to be.”