Our nation is facing critical shortages in the healthcare workforce. While you, your teams, and your students are doing their part to fill those gaps, policymakers must do their part in addressing this crisis as well.
Kurt Burkum Ph.D., Senior Director Government Relations
Recent Posts
Workforce Pell Updates from NHA
Posted by
Kurt Burkum Ph.D., Senior Director Government Relations on March 2026
New in 2026: News and Policy Updates from NHA
Posted by
Kurt Burkum Ph.D., Senior Director Government Relations on February 2026
If you work in healthcare today, you know what the data shows: allied health professionals are the backbone of our system. They make up 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce—over five million people—and directly shape patient access, care quality, and operational efficiency.
What is Workforce Pell and Why Does it Matter?
Posted by
Kurt Burkum Ph.D., Senior Director Government Relations on December 2025
In a recent LinkedIn post, Kurt Burkum, Senior Director of Government Relations at Ascend Learning, shares his insights on the upcoming new Workforce Pell program. His post covers who this program will benefit, and what implementation will likely involve. This includes highlighting how Workforce Pell can support short-term, career-focused training for learners aiming to join the healthcare workforce.

