1,000 Strong and Growing: 
Celebrating our Florida Scholar Milestone!

We've hit a major milestone in Florida—more than 1,000 Dwyer Scholars have been served through healthcare training programs since our launch in late 2023.

This success would not have been possible without our partners: CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia, Miami Dade College, Sharron Nursing Academy, and Lutheran Services of Florida.

With more Scholars entering training every day, we're continuing to build Florida's healthcare workforce. Read more in Florida Daily.

DWD Named to 2026 Executive Alliance Honor Roll

DWD has been named to Executive Alliance's 2026 Honor Roll for gender equity in leadership. With women making up 30% or more of both our C-suite and Board, we're honored to be recognized alongside organizations shaping more inclusive leadership across Maryland.

DWD Star on the Rise: Megan Heidler

Megan Heidler, DWD's Manager of Program Services, has been named a 2026 Emerging Leader by The Baltimore Banner. She's one of 15 community leaders under the age of 40 recognized for their impact across Baltimore and beyond.

We're proud to have her on our team. Congrats, Megan!

Check out the other honorees below.

Maryland's First Graduation of 2026

On February 25th, over 300 guests filled Southern Baptist Church to celebrate DWD's first Maryland Scholar Graduation of 2026. More than 80 Scholars crossed the stage, surrounded by families, partners, and team members celebrating their hard work and new beginnings.

Emeritus Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gail Cunningham shared heartfelt remarks, reminding graduates that compassion and unwavering commitment are at the heart of exceptional patient care.

We couldn't be prouder of this class!

7 New Healthcare Graduates in Texas

February also marked a milestone for seven of our Texas Scholars, who earned their CNA and GNA certifications and officially stepped into their healthcare careers after graduating from Hidalgo and Ebony Lake.


We can't wait to see the impact they make!

Building Brighter Futures Across Southwest Florida

As Josh Matlock, President and CEO of CareerSource Suncoast, puts it: DWD is here to help people get their start in healthcare.

Through Josh's partnership and support, DWD has served 146 Scholars through connections with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Golumbeck of the CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, and partners across Southwest Florida.

We're grateful to Josh and CareerSource Suncoast for their continued support and advocacy, and we look forward to reaching even more Scholars this year.

DWD at the eCap Healthcare Summit

DWD's Director of Partnerships Lisa Chamness attended the annual eCap Healthcare Summit in Miami, connecting with skilled nursing and long-term care leaders from across the industry.

Thank you to Capital Funding Group, McKnight's Homecare, Creative Solutions in HealthCare, Lisa Prout Danvers, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, Hill Valley Healthcare, Bedrock Healthcare, Avante Group, and others for the conversations and connections.

Big Love for the Rio Grande Valley

DWD's Community Engagement Coordinator Joan Garza spent time connecting with partners across the RGV this month, from The Bridges at Mission to Easterseals Rio Grande Valley. She was out sharing information about free healthcare career training and building pathways into CNA jobs in assisted living, memory care, and beyond.

Community Connection in Houston

DWD's Community Engagement Coordinator Alli Rutledge joined a Houston partner event hosted by BridgeYear, bringing together education and workforce leaders focused on improving career outcomes for first-generation and underserved students.

We love partnering with organizations like BridgeYear that share our commitment to removing barriers and opening doors into healthcare careers.

Another Year Celebrating at ACL Live’s Community Day in Austin!

The DWD team returned for the second annual ACL Community Day in Austin, where over 1,500 guests stopped by to learn about healthcare career pathways. Our booth featured caricatures, popcorn, and plenty of conversation about free healthcare training for underserved communities.

A big thanks to Director of Partnerships Lisa Chamness, Community Engagement Coordinator Alli, and Adrian from Wellsential for representing DWD and connecting with so many community members.

We can’t wait for next year!

DWD's 2026 Retreat

Another year, another DWD retreat—and this was a GOOD one! This year's retreat brought our team together from Maryland, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Delaware for two days on Maryland's Eastern Shore. We spent the time connecting, learning from each other, and wrapped up with a workshop led by Erin Moran, Executive Director of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute.

We are already counting down to next year!

DWD is Growing

We're expanding our team and looking for passionate individuals to join us in making a positive impact!

Don't miss out on this chance to be part of a dynamic team committed to workforce development!

Know Someone Looking to Grow Their Career in Health Care?

Calling all nonprofits, government agencies, case managers, social workers, faith community leaders, and counselors dedicated to serving unemployed and under-employed community members! We invite you to connect with us and explore how we can collaborate to become a valuable workforce development resource for your organization and the individuals you support. 

Let's work together to empower and uplift our community through meaningful employment opportunities and skill-building programs. Reach out to us today to start this impactful journey together!

Help us spread the word about the impact and positive changes we are making in healthcare. Like, share, and follow our stories on social media to create awareness and inspire others to join our cause.