U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego visited GateWay Community College on Tuesday, Aug. 24, to meet with the school's leadership and healthcare leaders from around the valley to discuss workforce development investments.
GateWay, one of 10 Colleges within the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), is known for being a leader in healthcare education and workforce training. During a roundtable discussion, Secretary Walsh focused on building a prepared and equitable healthcare workforce and highlighted how community colleges play a vital role in that development.
"The visit from Secretary Walsh went exceptionally well," said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, MCCCD Interim Chancellor. "He was able to hear first-hand what the challenges are for our system, including the existing and looming shortages in nursing and allied health programs, and learned how important it is for us to continue to prepare nurses and allied health employees in the future."
Producing one-third of nursing graduates on average in Arizona each year, Maricopa Community Colleges and GateWay play a significant role in shaping the healthcare workforce in the state.
"The visit today by Secretary Walsh and Mayor Gallego highlights that GateWay continues to be an innovative force that helps drive Arizona's healthcare industry," said Dr. Amy Diaz, interim president of GateWay Community College. "We look forward to continuing to model the way for workforce development here in Phoenix."
With more than 70 different healthcare programs offered within Maricopa Community Colleges, GateWay and its sister colleges continue to provide high-quality, affordable education that helps fill critical job openings in Arizona's healthcare system.