Strengthening Ohio’s Healthcare Workforce: Why Holzer Health System Stands with Rio Grande Community College
The following is a statement of support written By Lisa Detty, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Holzer Health System.
At Holzer Health System, we are proud of our legacy, rooted in a young surgeon’s decision in 1909 to make service to southeastern Ohio his life’s work. Rather than leave after a one-year residency at what was then the Ohio Hospital for Epileptics (now the Gallipolis Developmental Center), Dr. Charles E. Holzer heeded the community’s call and instead stayed and established the community’s first hospital, with seven beds in a converted house.
More than a century later, the seed planted by Dr. Holzer has grown into the region’s largest health system, with two full-service hospitals, numerous outpatient and specialty centers, post-acute and long-term care centers, pharmacies and more. As our region’s healthcare needs continue to grow, Holzer will continue to evolve and expand, but one thing will remain constant: We’ll need a work force of well trained and highly skilled people to serve our patients.
That is why our longstanding partnership with the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College (Rio) is so essential - not just for Holzer, but for the vitality of healthcare in our region.
Like its fellow community colleges across Ohio, Rio is an essential partner in providing the education and training necessary to fuel a 21st-century economy — helping businesses and institutions like ours fill essential jobs and enabling people in our community to build careers that support families.
Community colleges work for Ohio because the administration of Gov. Mike DeWine, in collaboration with JobsOhio and the Ohio General Assembly, has demonstrated a strong commitment to economic development and workforce investment. We applaud these efforts and urge Ohio’s leaders to continue making support of Ohio's community college system a priority. These nimble and locally rooted institutions are pivotal in meeting the state’s workforce demands, particularly in the healthcare sector.
At Holzer, we have firsthand experience of Rio's impact. Rio graduates consistently come to us workforce-ready, with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in healthcare professions. Whether in nursing, allied health, medical assisting, or other critical roles, they help us meet growing patient needs and ensure high-quality care for the communities we serve.
Just as important, Rio's affordability and accessibility allow local students to train close to home, keeping talent in our region — a vital factor in addressing workforce shortages and ensuring the vitality of Oho communities.
Our collaboration with Rio goes beyond simply hiring people after they graduate. We collaborate with the college to shape the curriculum, to ensure students are learning what they’ll need in a fast-changing industry.
Rio's flexibility in offering certification programs and clinical partnerships along with its degree programs has been invaluable in preparing professionals who are ready on day one. This ability to rapidly adapt to industry needs is critical as health care continues to evolve, whether in response to technological innovations or emerging public health challenges.
A tight labor market adds even more urgency to our need to attract and retain qualified professionals. Holzer benefits immensely from Rio's commitment to workforce readiness, as do the patients and families who rely on us for care. Investment in Rio — and Ohio's broader community college system — s an investment in Ohio's healthcare infrastructure, economic development, and overall quality of life.
As Ohio’s next state budget takes shape, we urge state leaders, JobsOhio, and other economic development partners to continue championing Ohio's community colleges. By strengthening institutions like Rio, we ensure a pipeline of skilled professionals that directly supports local businesses, economic stability, and the well-being of Ohioans.
Holzer Health System is proud to speak up for Rio and its students. Together, we can build a stronger, healthier future for Ohio.