A new report from New America highlights the promise of degree apprenticeships in addressing health care workforce shortages and acknowledges WIN staff member Jan Karazim for her leadership in expanding these career pathways.
Published August 11, 2026, Degree Apprenticeship: A Remedy for the Health Care Talent Crisis examines how apprenticeship programs in nursing and allied health fields can help employers build a skilled workforce while making health care careers more accessible. Through degree apprenticeships, participants earn wages, complete structured on-the-job learning, and work toward a college degree, which removes financial barriers that often prevent working adults from pursuing health care education.
The report opens with Jan’s own experience as a radiologic technologist in Jackson, Michigan. Although she was interested in becoming a registered nurse, the hundreds of hours of unpaid clinical experience required by nursing programs made that pathway financially out of reach. That experience helped shape her commitment to developing better options for today’s workers.
Now serving as program manager for the Health Careers Alliance (HCA), Jan has helped advance Michigan’s first degree apprenticeships in registered nursing and surgical technology. The employer-led alliance is supported by the Workforce Intelligence Network.
The report also highlights Jan’s leadership in expanding apprenticeship into respiratory therapy. Responding to interest from Michigan employers, she convened community college faculty and respiratory therapy professionals, engaged national industry associations and built the support needed to move the occupation forward. These collaborative efforts helped contribute to the U.S. Department of Labor’s recognition of respiratory therapy as an apprenticeable occupation in 2026.
Jan emphasized to the report’s authors that successful apprenticeship development begins with education, trust and meaningful collaboration—particularly when working with health care accrediting and regulatory organizations.
New America’s research identified 107 health care degree apprenticeship programs across 15 occupations, 93 colleges and universities, and 29 states. Although the model is growing, the report notes that continued coordination among employers, educators, apprenticeship agencies, accreditors and regulatory bodies will be essential to expanding these opportunities.
Jan’s inclusion in this national report reflects both her commitment and WIN’s continued work to create accessible, employer-driven talent solutions for Michigan’s health care industry.
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