Military to Medicine program to provide healthcare training, career opportunities to military families

Inova Health SystemApr 13 2010

Program Offers Job Training, Advancement to Military Families

Inova Health System's Military to Medicine program is hosting a national launch event on Tuesday, April 20, at the National Press Club to announce the program will be providing healthcare training and career opportunities to military families across the country.  Military to Medicine began as a recruitment initiative in partnership with the Army Reserve Employer Partnership Office and the Department of Defense in 2008. Now, the program is extending its services nationwide to more fully support the nation's military families while also addressing the national healthcare workforce shortage.

"We're honored to offer healthcare training and career opportunities nationwide to the extended military family, including military spouses, wounded warriors and other service members transitioning to civilian employment," said Daniel Nichols, Executive Director, Military to Medicine, Inova Health System. "There are more than 650,000 military spouses stationed in the U.S. Nearly 80 percent of these spouses want a career, but frequent relocations make this difficult. We're here to make sure they have the training and skills necessary for portable careers in healthcare."

In its first year, Military to Medicine served 1,200 members of the extended military family. The numbers are expected to jump to 3,200 in 2010, and expansion plans could provide services to as many as 30,000 in coming years.