Published March 20, 2019 
Workforce
AACN’s 2018 Policy Luminary Award Recipient, Dr. Julie Sochalski, Speaks at Hill Briefing
On March 14, the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), which includes AACN as a member, held a congressional briefing on shaping the healthcare workforce. As one of three panelists, AACN’s 2018 Lois Capps Policy Luminary Award Recipient and current Health Policy Advisory Council Chair, Dr. Julie Sochalski, focused on the immense value Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs have in creating a diverse pipeline of nurses and supporting rural and underserved areas. She also highlighted the interprofessional collaboration between Title VII and Title VIII grantees, especially at the University of Pennsylvania. Congressional staff in attendance heard first-hand from Dr. Sochalski that, “You can’t change health care without training a diverse healthcare workforce.”
HPNEC is an alliance of more than 60 national organizations representing schools, programs, health professionals, and students dedicated to ensuring that the healthcare workforce is prepared to meet the needs of a diverse population. This briefing occurred as Congress considers Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 funding levels for critical healthcare programs, including Title VIII.
Research
All of Us Research Program Launches YouTube Series
On March 14, the All of Us Research Program, partnering with the National Library of Medicine, launched a YouTube Speaker Series. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, Dr. Francis Collins, kicked off the series by discussing the progress of the All of Us Research Program and answering questions. Future speakers will focus on how the program may help find answers to a variety of health and wellness issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental health. AACN partnered with the NIH to support All of Us and has awarded $215,000 to 17 AACN member schools around the country. Learn more about AACN’s work with the All of Us Research Program.
Advocacy
Take Action: Urge Your Representative to Sign “Dear Colleague” Letter Supporting Title VIII
A bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee to provide the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs with $266 million for FY 2020 is being circulated in the House of Representatives. Ask your Representative to support Title VIII funding by signing the bipartisan “Dear Colleague” Letter before March 21. Every signature counts!
Send a message now.
AACN’s 2019 Spring Advocacy Day Events
We look forward to a record number of deans and students who will be advocating during AACN’s Capitol Hill Day on Monday, March 25. For those deans and student participating in this year’s advocacy day, we encourage you to attend Monday’s “Tips and Tools for Effective Capitol Hill Visits” at 7:30 am (ET) at the Fairmont Hotel. At this session, AACN Government Affairs staff will guide you in preparing for your Capitol Hill visits later in the day.
Not in Washington, DC for AACN’s Hill day? Join our advocacy efforts remotely by signing up for AACN’s Grassroots Network Action Alerts to receive a message that you can send to your elected official. Find more advocacy resources on our Hill Day Hub webpage.