Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority

The Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (VHWDA) was established by the General Assembly to identify and address health workforce issues in the Commonwealth. The VHWDA accomplishes this by addressing nine core functions as stated in the Code of Virginia. The VHWDA assesses health workforce needs in Virginia; sets priorities for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program; informs health care workforce policy; promotes strategies for health workforce pipeline development; supports collaborations between communities, businesses, and social organizations to facilitate recruitment and retention efforts; advocates reducing the student debt load of health professionals; identifies High Priority Target Areas (HPTAs) within each region of the Commonwealth; and aims to create innovative health workforce development models.