Healthcare Workforce Summit to Address Workforce Shortages as Michigan’s Population Ages
As Michigan’s population ages, growing demand for healthcare services is placing
additional pressure on an already strained workforce. At the 2026 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Summit: Building What’s Next, the session “Meeting the Moment: Addressing Workforce Shortages in an Aging Michigan” will examine what this changing demand means for Michigan’s healthcare workforce and the people who rely on it.
MHC Insight will explore projected shortages in healthcare occupations expected to face further strain as more older adults require care. The discussion will consider how these shortages may affect patient access, quality of care, and the broader healthcare system.
The speakers include:
Dr. Karalyn Kiessling, Director of Data and Research at Michigan Health Council. Dr. Kiessling specializes in qualitative and mixed-methods research and translates scientific findings into information that can guide policy and innovation. Through a deeper understanding of the challenges facing healthcare professionals, she and her team at MHC Insight work to identify solutions that strengthen Michigan’s healthcare workforce for the years
ahead.
Aleysha Czartoszewski, Career Pathways Coordinator at Michigan Health Council. Aleysha works to inspire and prepare K–12 students for careers in healthcare, with a focus on behavioral health career pathways. She has collaborated with the Michigan Department of Education’s School Behavioral Health Unit and Office of Career and Technical Education and contributed to the development of the Michigan Career Development Model.
The session will connect workforce projections with a discussion of emerging strategies, innovative approaches, and promising practices to strengthen recruitment, retention, and workforce capacity. Attendees will consider how these approaches can help Michigan prepare for growing demand and support a workforce equipped to meet the needs of an aging population.
The 2026 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Summit: Building What’s Next will take place on October 27, bringing together healthcare employers, educators, policymakers, workforce professionals, and community partners to identify practical next steps for strengthening Michigan’s healthcare workforce.
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