News from Eastern Maine AHEC
On February 3, 2026 a half-day Healthcare Workforce Summit was held at Washington County Community College in Calais. Hosted by Rural Aspirations Project, Sunrise County Economic Council, Washington County Community College, and Eastern Maine AHEC at Healthy Acadia, this free, collaborative event brought together over 35 people from across a spectrum of health-related fields, including medical care, mental and behavioral health, recovery services, EMS, and public health; educators from Washington County high schools, adult education programs, and secondary education; and representatives from economic councils, community organizations, and state agencies.
The purpose of the summit was to raise awareness about career pathways related to the healthcare sector. Together, participants explored workforce challenges and opportunities across our region’s rural health sectors; shared existing training, job shadow, and internship pathways for high school students; identified the skills and preparation students need to succeed in health care; and strengthened opportunities for collaboration between employers, schools, and post-secondary partners.
If you are interested in learning more about opportunities to support healthcare pathways in Washington County, please contact Maria Donahue, Eastern AHEC Director at maria@healthyacadia.org.
