Office of Health Care Workforce Innovation
The Office of Health Care Workforce Innovation is situated in the New York State Department of Health's Center for Health Care Policy and Resource Development in the Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management. The office was established in 2022 in response to New York's commitment to rebuild and grow the health care workforce.
The Office of Health Care Workforce Innovation addresses New York State's health workforce shortage through grants and program initiatives while utilizing data to help drive policy recommendations. The team is focused on increasing the supply of health care workers to meet the increasing demands across the state of New York. Emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities of providing opportunities in marginalized and underserved communities.
Workforce Program Initiatives
Area Health Education Center: Aims to improve the supply and distribution of health care professionals across New York State. The goal is to improve health care access to underserved areas through pipeline program and emphasizing the development of a primary care workforce through community-based activities. For more information, contact WINN@health.ny.gov
Associated Medical Schools of New York Scholars in Medicine and Science: Aims to recruit and train a diverse health care workforce that represents the diversity of the patients in underserved communities to ensure health equity across the continuum of care. The goal is to improve health equity and access to care through exposure, recruitment, and retention in medicine. For more information, contact WINN@health.ny.gov
Health Care Education and Life-Skills Program: Aims to increase the number of students, or trainees, pursuing careers in health care by offering wrap around services and support. The goal is to improve the drop out rate among health care trainees through support and skills building. For more information, contact HELP.Services.Grant@health.ny.gov
Health Workforce Connects: Aims to create a web-based platform, or hub, that offers end-users relevant information, resources, and services related to health care careers in New York State. The goal is to link those exploring and pursuing careers in health care to organizations, agencies, resources, and other statewide information including but not limited to employers, educational institutions, training programs, financial aid, loan repayment, data, and research. For more information, contact WINN@health.ny.gov
Increase Training Capacity in Statewide health care Facilities: Aims to fund regional projects that provide an innovative response to meet the health care workforce demand in New York State. The goal of the program is to expand the health care workforce by assisting facilities in training more health care workers. For more information contact, IncreasingTrainingCapacity@health.ny.gov
Stakeholder Summit on New York State’s Nursing Workforce: The 2025 Stakeholder Summit on New York State’s Nursing Workforce brought together health care leaders to address critical staffing challenges, revealing that sustainable solutions require fundamental shifts from traditional recruitment practices to comprehensive workforce cultivation strategies.
Read the Stakeholder Summit on New York State's Nursing Workforce Report (PDF)
Loan Forgiveness Program Initiatives
Doctors Across New York: Aims to train and place physicians in underserved communities in a variety of settings and specialties to care for New York´s diverse population. All new awards will require a 3-year service obligation for a maximum amount of $120,000. For more information, contact DANYprogram@health.ny.gov.
Nurses Across New York: Aims to recruit and retain registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses to work in underserved communities, in a variety of health care delivery settings and care for New York’s diverse population thereby increasing access to comprehensive, quality care. Funding to repay qualified educational debt is provided in exchange for a nurse’s commitment to work in an underserved area for a three-year period. For more information, contact NANY@health.ny.gov.
Program Outcomes
The Program Outcomes page exhibits Program Goals and Funding Details for the above initiatives by county and economic development region, including an interactive New York State map.
Policy and Regulations
Temporary Staffing Agency Registration: Part X of Health and Mental Hygiene FY24 Budget added Article 29-k to the Public Health Law, requires temporary health care service agencies to register with the New York State Department of Health. The statute directs agencies to submit quarterly financial-related reports and copies of all contracts between the agency and health care entities to which the agency assigns or refers health care personnel. For more information, please see our website Temporary Staffing Agency Registration or contact TempAgencyRegistration@health.ny.gov
