Celebrating our GrowHire Graduates

Delivering on our mission requires that we have talented and experienced caregivers who are able to meet the health needs of our community. Swedish is Seattle’s trusted health partner, and this includes providing training opportunities and career pathways for caregivers who live our values of compassion, justice, excellence, dignity, integrity and safety.

As one of the largest employers in the Seattle area, Swedish works closely with community partners to create training and career development opportunities for people in the Puget Sound region who are passionate about and dedicated to improving the well-being of the people we serve.

I am proud of the partnership with GrowHire – an innovative new program for people who are just beginning their careers in health care. The four-week accelerated program provides individuals with entry-level job training and resources to explore career opportunities in our industry. The program is sponsored by Swedish Health Services as well as Seattle Jobs Initiative, Seattle Colleges Center for Working Adults and City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development.

It was an honor to deliver the keynote address at the GrowHire graduation ceremony on March 1. Along with the 24 graduates and their families, I was joined by Swedish colleagues and representatives from partner organizations to celebrate and honor GrowHire’s first ever graduating class. Attendees also heard from Seattle Jobs Initiative acting executive director Jeff Wendland, Seattle College District chancellor Shouan Pan and Karl Stickel, interim director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, who delivered the commencement address. GrowHire goes beyond addressing the immediate need for a job and helps students build a foundation for a health care career. Along with tactical support such as resume building, students receive training in interpersonal skills such as stress management, teamwork and conflict resolution.

Swedish is more than a proud partner of this program, we are also a beneficiary. GrowHire graduates who apply for open positions at Swedish are qualified and highly desirable candidates in part because of the skills and support they build through this program. I was pleased to hear there is a waitlist for the next cohort of GrowHire students this spring.

I am grateful for the opportunity to pause and celebrate the exciting work taking place at and around Swedish. Our people are incredibly bright, caring and dedicated to delivering the best care possible. Witnessing the energy and enthusiasm shared by the GrowHire graduates only reinforced my commitment to ensuring an inclusive and welcoming environment for all caregivers, now and in the future. Thank you to everyone involved in making this program possible. It is only a matter of time before these graduates become the next generation of health care leaders.