DWD CEO Barb Clapp Testifies Before Texas House Committee on Public Health

DWD CEO Barb Clapp recently testified before the Texas House Committee on Public Health in Austin, Texas, sharing strategies to address the state's healthcare workforce shortage. As Texas continues to face challenges recruiting and retaining frontline caregivers, Barb highlighted how DWD's model is helping build a stronger workforce through tuition-free training, comprehensive support services, and clear pathways to healthcare careers. Her testimony demonstrated how workforce development can create lasting solutions for both job seekers and healthcare employers.



Watch her full testimony below!

DWD Celebrates Newly Certified Healthcare Graduates with Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk as Keynote Speaker

DWD recently celebrated the graduation of more than 100 newly Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) at a ceremony held at Southern Baptist Church in East Baltimore, with Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk delivering the keynote address.

Speaker Peña-Melnyk, a leading legislative voice on healthcare access and equity in Maryland, addressed the graduates directly, acknowledging the hard work behind each certification and underscoring the critical role they will play in a state where demand for qualified healthcare professionals consistently outpaces supply.

Read more in CityBiz below!

CEO Barb Clapp's Op-Ed in the Chicago Tribune

CEO Barb Clapp recently authored an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune on the growing healthcare workforce shortage. In it, she explores the widening gap between rising demand for care and a shrinking workforce, and why expanding pathways into healthcare careers is critical to meeting the nation's future needs.

Read the full op-ed in the Chicago Tribune below.

DWD Announces 9-State Expansion and Goal to Serve 100,000 Scholars by 2030

As the U.S. healthcare system continues to face a severe workforce shortage, DWD announced plans to expand into nine additional states in 2026 and serve 100,000 Dwyer Scholars by 2030.

This national scaling follows a remarkable year of growth and impact in 2025, during which we served 4,776 new Scholars, and more than 11,000 Scholars served since September 2022.

DWD Featured in Nice News

DWD was recently featured in Nice News, a daily digest newsletter that publishes positive stories. CEO Barb Clapp shared how Dwyer Workforce Development is helping address the nursing shortage by offering free training and career pathways for aspiring healthcare workers and expanding access to opportunity while strengthening the care workforce.

Read the story below!

DWD Announces Two New Board Members

We welcomed two new members to our board of directors!

Gail P. Cunningham, M.D. is a physician executive with more than three decades of experience in healthcare, emergency medicine, and hospital leadership. A former Chief Medical Officer at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center and founder of G.P. Cunningham Consulting, she brings deep expertise in organizational leadership and high-stakes decision-making.

Monesia "Mone" Brown is a governance, strategy, and corporate affairs executive with nearly three decades of experience spanning Fortune 1 retail, management consulting, government, and financial sector governance. A Florida-licensed attorney and former Director of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation, she brings a distinctive perspective on enterprise risk, regulatory strategy, and organizational transformation.

We look forward to the insight both bring to advancing DWD's mission.

New Partnerships Fueling 
DWD's Continued Expansion

DWD's network of partners keeps growing, with new collaborations launching across Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Illinois that will connect more individuals to healthcare training, employment opportunities, and the support they need to succeed. Check out our newest partners:

• Transitions Healthcare North Huntingdon – new employer partner in Pittsburgh, PA
• Southern Healthcare Management – new employer partner in South Florida
• FLITE Center – new non-profit partner in Broward County, FL
• Great Jobs KC – new non-profit partner in Kansas
• Proyecto Juan Diego – new non-profit partner in Brownsville, TX
• Family Scholar House – new non-profit partner in Houston, TX
• PossAble Dream Adult High School – new non-profit partner in Pharr, TX
• ALIYA – new employer partner in Chicago, IL

DWD & Dent Education’s Community Impact

DWD recently hosted a grant project event at Dent Education in Baltimore, Maryland, to foster cultural conversations and community collaboration. Our very own community liaison, Rosalind, spoke during the panel portion of the evening to share wisdom, powerful life stories, and thoughtful insight into how our partnership continues to build positive connections and understanding between the Black and Jewish communities in Baltimore.

A Visit to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas

The DWD team recently visited the Rio Grande Valley, Texas for a full schedule of partner meetings and Scholar connections. Highlights included dinner with board member Veronica Gonzales, a meeting with employer partner Touchstone at their Heights of Alamo location, and a visit to the SCI Pharr campus where Jaime Rosas presented to a group of Dwyer Scholars.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

While in the Rio Grande Valley, DWD proudly participated in the 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day parade in the Rio Grande Valley. Community organizations, advocates, and local leaders gathered at Bert Ogden Arena to raise awareness about elder abuse and promote the importance of protecting, respecting, and supporting older adults.

Hear From One Thriving Dwyer Scholar

"Because of your support, I was able to focus more fully on my nursing education without the constant stress of financial hardship.

Having that burden lifted allowed me to dedicate more time and energy to my coursework, resulting in my achievement of making the Dean's List this semester.

This accomplishment is something I am extremely proud of, and it would not have been possible without the assistance I received."

-Dwyer Scholar

Second Annual Careforce Collective

Mark your calendars for our second annual Careforce Collective leadership breakfast! On October 8, we're excited to host another morning of inspiration and connection. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more information to come!

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 Healthcare?

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.