DENVER - On July 16, 2024, Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Jill Ryan discussed Colorado’s efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce through the Practice-Based Healthcare Education grants. The Governor visited the Lowry Family Health Center, which received a grant for the Colorado Works for International Physicians program, an innovative effort to enhance the state’s health care workforce. During his visit, Governor Polis met with physicians participating in the program. 

“In Colorado, we are committed to ensuring everyone has access to the affordable and quality healthcare they need. By investing in healthcare training and education, we are connecting Coloradans with the skills they need to build careers and get good-paying jobs while expanding our healthcare workforce and saving people money on healthcare,” said Governor Polis. 

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, echoed the sentiment. “Colorado has a tradition of attracting the best and brightest to our health care workforce, but that doesn’t just happen by accident. We need to be intentional about providing opportunities, which will ultimately serve the people of Colorado.” 

The Colorado Works for International Physicians program trains international medical graduates to enter primary care physician residency programs and obtain medical licenses to practice in the United States. 

"Our participants bring a wealth of experience and dedication to patient care. We are proud to support these talented individuals in their journey to becoming licensed physicians in Colorado," said Dr. Phillip Fung, Medical Director at CO-WIP. 

With 123 areas in Colorado experiencing health care shortages and a projected deficit of 3,000 physicians by 2030, efforts like the Practice-based Health Education Grant Program are essential. Each licensed international medical graduate physician may care for up to 2,000 patients annually, helping to bridge the gap in physician capacity. 

According to the Colorado 2022 Talent Pipeline Report, the health care sector has the highest demand for people to fill jobs, with more than 887,865 unique job postings between August 2021 and 2022. 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently announced 23 grant awards from the Practice-based Health Education Grants Program, which aims to increase the capacity to train students to join the healthcare workforce in Colorado. CDPHE has awarded more than $18.8 million to 17 organizations to fund 23 programs reaching people across Colorado. 

The full list of grant recipients include:

- Adams Arapahoe 28J/Aurora Public Schools/Pickens Technical College, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Pharmacy Technician Training
- Adams State University, Expanding Practice-based Education in Nursing to Build Health Care Equity in Rural
- Colorado Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, Statewide Emergency Medical Services Peer Assistance Project
- Colorado Institute of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Resident Training
- Colorado Mesa University, Nurse Practitioner Training
- Clinica Family Health, Dental Assistant Training
- Clinica Family Health, Medical Assistant Training Program
- Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Advanced Practice Primary Care Excellence Training Program
- Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Advanced Practice Provider Specialty Intensive Residency, also known as ASPIRe Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Colorado Works for Immigrant Physicians
- Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Acute Care Extern Learners Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Medical Assistant Training Program
- Denver Health and Hospital Authority/Dental Workforce Project, Dental Assistant Training
- Kids in Need of Dentistry, Practice-based Education Expansion
- Metropolitan State University, A systemic response to strengthen a diverse health care workforce
- Montrose Regional Health, Sim Lab Equipment
- National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement, Accessible Career Entry Project
- Northeastern Junior College, Colorado Practice-based Health Education Grant Program
- Tepeyac Community Health, Clinical Rotations
- University of Colorado Denver Preventive Medicine Residency, Preventive Medicine Residency - Addiction Track
- Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, Emergency Medical Technician/Community Paramedic Workforce Expansion
- Upper San Juan Health Service District/Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Pagosa Springs Medical Center Simulation Lab
- Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc, Dental Residency and Dental Assistant Training