Building the Future Healthcare Workforce—Together

When workforce challenges emerge, Fox Valley Technical College is uniquely positioned to help lead the solution. An upcoming event hosted by FVTC’s Business & Industry Services (BIS) team and Health Science department does just that — bringing healthcare employers, educators and industry partners together around innovation, collaboration and workforce readiness.

The Healthcare Innovation Open House, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026, offers a real-world look at FVTC’s mission in action: preparing skilled, confident professionals while supporting employers through innovative workforce development solutions.

Today’s healthcare organizations face ongoing staffing shortages, complex onboarding demands and rapidly evolving clinical expectations. This open house provides employers the opportunity to experience FVTC’s hands-on training technologies firsthand — and to explore how immersive learning can strengthen clinical skills, build confidence and ultimately improve patient care.

“New healthcare professionals often feel overwhelmed by complex patient situations, communication demands or the fast pace of healthcare environments,” says Carrie Thompson, associate dean of Nursing. “Our tools allow learners to practice repeatedly, make mistakes safely and build confidence before they encounter those challenges on the job. For employers, this means staff who are better prepared, more confident and able to transition more quickly into practice-ready roles.”

During the event, attendees will explore FVTC’s Simulation Center, VR dementia training and Anatomage Table, seeing how realistic clinical environments bridge classroom learning with real-world application.

• The Simulation Center replicates authentic healthcare settings, allowing learners to engage in scenarios ranging from routine patient care to high-acuity situations. Participants develop critical thinking, teamwork and clinical judgement.
• VR Dementia Training places learners in the perspective of someone experience cognitive decline — building empathy, strengthening communication and helping healthcare professionals better understand patient behaviors.
• The Anatomage Table further enhances learning through highly interactive, 3D anatomy visualization, deepening understanding of anatomy, pathology and spatial relationships.  

This event is a showcase of how FVTC adapts alongside an evolving healthcare system.

“Ongoing learning is essential,” Carrie says. “We’re focused on being adaptable and responsive — listening closely to healthcare employers and using these tools to address onboarding challenges, skill gaps and continuing education needs.”

One example of that commitment is FVTC’s pursuit of national accreditation for the Simulation Center. According to Ben McKenzie, dean of the Health Division, accreditation will “validate that we are utilizing best practice in simulation education.”

“Our lead simulation faculty and health simulation technicians are working hard to create a fantastic learning environment for faculty, students and industry professionals like,” Ben explains. “The process will help to bring a consistency in our delivery and also help to prepare learners to build on their skillset within the environment.”

Events like the Healthcare Open House also reinforce FVTC’s role as a workforce development partner, not just an educational institution.

“We want employers to understand and experience the innovation and technology FVTC invests in to support their future and current workforces,” says Holly Murray, BIS account manager. “FVTC is here to support our communities by providing knowledgeable and ready-to-work graduates and by offering training and additional workforce development resources that help organizations upskill and retain their employees.”

That partnership mindset is intentional. According to Kari Meixl, director of BIS, training solutions are never one-size-fits-all.

“We are here to listen to their needs and to work collaboratively together to find solutions that meet their needs. Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean we can’t do it! We just need to start with the ask and the conversation.”

Healthcare employers, clinical leaders and industry partners are invited to start that conversation at the Healthcare Innovation Open House: