08/21/2026
Edgecombe Community College is partnering with the Rural Opportunity Institute, Area L AHEC, STEP and other regional organizations to develop clearer and more supportive healthcare workforce pathways for local residents. The work is funded by a $50,000 grant from the Education Design Lab’s Strengthening the Rural Workforce through Collaborative Design initiative, which aims to improve career routes in rural communities across the Southeast.
Vichi Jagannathan, co-founder and co-CEO of the Rural Opportunity Institute, said students often express interest in healthcare careers but struggle to understand how to enter the field.
“We’ve been hearing from students about what healthcare jobs are available locally and what they can do,” Jagannathan said. “But there seemed to be a gap.”
That gap includes limited guidance on structured employment pathways that provide on-the-job learning opportunities.
Jordan Blake, regional coordinator for Area L AHEC, said employers across the region report ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining healthcare talent.
