Reinventing Virginia’s Health Care Future

As Virginia faces growing shortages in the health care workforce, the Claude Moore Foundation and George Mason University have formed a groundbreaking partnership to seek solutions and build a flexible, inclusive, and data-driven workforce pipeline. The effort is one designed not just to meet current needs but to shape a stronger, more equitable future for health care in the commonwealth. 

At the center of this partnership is William Hazel, former Virginia secretary of health and human resources and now CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities, the foundation’s arm for strategic partnerships. Hazel’s longstanding relationship with George Mason—he served as senior advisor for strategic initiatives from 2018 to 2020—helped seed many of the elements that define this collaboration.  

That ethos underpins the Claude Moore Foundation’s guiding philosophy to open doors and expand opportunity. By investing in innovative models that expand access and strengthen workforce readiness, the foundation is helping to remove barriers and build ladders. 

Through George Mason’s Center for Health Workforce at the College of Public Health, the university plays a leading role as Virginia’s hub for workforce research and strategy. The center’s work has led to the development of statewide data platforms that have shaped policy, informing local pilot programs in more remote areas of Virginia and driving conversations about behavioral health and early childhood care.  

The Claude Moore Career Highway is one pathway to draw more health care workers. This new framework treats the health care workforce not as a single pipeline but as a network, offering “on-ramps and off-ramps” to support Virginians seeking this career path at any stage of life, whether they’re high school students, career switchers, or adults returning to school after time away.  

The Claude Moore Scholars Program is another key component of efforts to expand the workforce, introducing high school students to health care careers through hands-on experiences and clear pathways from K–12 to college to career. Already active in 17 Virginia districts and expanding, the program reflects both Claude Moore’s and George Mason’s shared commitment to access, equity, and tangible outcomes. 

The impact is measurable. Many of the program’s graduates return to serve in their home communities, reflecting a model that’s not just about producing talent—but producing the right talent for Virginia. 

As Hazel puts it, “This workforce issue is cresting. The question is how do we attract people, train them, and help them grow?” Thanks to the partnership between Claude Moore and George Mason, Virginia is beginning to answer that question—boldly, equitably, and with lasting impact.