Two healthcare systems, the Mayo Clinic and UW Health, are implementing programs to address workforce shortages by integrating veterans into civilian medical careers. The Mayo Clinic has launched a military medicine fellowship in Phoenix, offering veterans hands-on healthcare experience and preparing them for further medical training or educational roles. Meanwhile, UW Health is fostering a supportive environment for military-trained personnel, collaborating with organizations to ease their transition into civilian healthcare. This includes awarding college credits for military service and legislative support to allow certain military members to practice healthcare without immediate licensure, all aimed at creating a smoother transition for veterans.

Veterans Transition to Civilian Healthcare Careers Through Innovative Programs Becker's Hospital Review

Trust in healthcare is built on a workforce that reflects the diversity of the patient population, yet current statistics show a significant lack of representation among healthcare professionals, with only 38% of physicians being female and even fewer identifying as non-White. Addressing this disparity requires organizations to invest in diverse talent pipelines and consider a contingent workforce model, which can improve access to local talent and enhance patient care. To effectively implement this model, healthcare organizations should develop strategies that promote collaboration between contingent and full-time employees while leveraging talent intelligence metrics to identify areas for workforce improvement.

Boosting Diversity in Healthcare: Strategies for a Trustworthy Workforce MedCity News

Cisco has released a security update to address a serious vulnerability, CVE-2024-20418, affecting its Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) access points, which are critical for industrial wireless automation. The flaw, located in the web-based management interface of Cisco's Unified Industrial Wireless Software, allows unauthenticated attackers to execute commands with root privileges through command injection attacks without user interaction. This vulnerability affects specific models, including the Catalyst IW9165D, IW9165E, and IW9167E access points, only when running vulnerable software in URWB mode. While there is no evidence of active exploitation or publicly available exploit code, administrators are advised to check their devices for risk using the "show mpls-config" command.

Cisco Patches Critical Vulnerability in Industrial Wireless Access Points BleepingComputer

The Department of Veterans Affairs has named Kim Stevens as its new Chief Health Informatics Officer, leveraging over ten years of experience in healthcare and digital technology. In her role, Stevens will lead efforts to enhance patient care and organizational performance through informatics solutions. Her previous positions include mentoring doctoral nursing candidates at Walden University and working as an associate manager at Accenture, where she focused on improving scientific data management in healthcare. With a background in nursing and informatics from notable organizations and universities, Stevens is well-prepared to address the challenges in health informatics for veterans. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing as well as a master's and doctorate in nursing informatics.

VA Appoints Kim Stevens as New Chief Health Informatics Officer ExecutiveGov