CTE Month: ‘PCC is a critical partner’ — healthcare leaders recruit at Sylvania job fair
Photos and story by James Hill
Making connections: A PCC student talks with recruiters from OHSU during PCC’s Nursing and Medical Imaging Job Fair at the Sylvania Campus.
Healthcare students packed Portland Community College’s Sylvania Campus on Feb. 19 for PCC’s Nursing and Medical Imaging Job Fair, hosted by Career Services. With more than a dozen employers on site, and more than 20 organizations represented overall, the event gave students a direct line to hiring teams, career pathways, and the realities of today’s healthcare workforce.
“This is the third year we have coordinated this event, and each year employer and student participation has grown thanks to the strong collaboration between the nursing and medical imaging programs and Career Services,” said Diane Jantze, PCC Jobs and Internships specialist. “This year, we welcomed approximately 200 employer, student, and faculty attendees.”
Sylvania, home to several of PCC’s healthcare-related programs, served as a natural hub for the fair. Students circulated among booths to learn what different employers prioritize and what workplace cultures feel like beyond a job posting. Recruiters and managers fielded questions about roles, schedules, onboarding, and how new graduates can keep advancing once they’re hired.
It is CTE Month!
Community colleges like PCC are committed to filling high-demand jobs in their communities with the skills and training necessary for success in industries. Community colleges are strong partners to local business and industry, utilizing workforce professionals to guide programs through advisory committees.
“We aim to help people thrive by focusing on preventative care, innovative research, and equitable access to health services,” said Mike Griffith, Director of Imaging Operations for Kaiser Permanente. “PCC is a critical partner to provide people with the skills to carry out this mission.”
Just as important, the fair helped students compare compensation and benefits across the region. Students also explored what can make a long-term healthcare career sustainable: supportive teams, generous time off, tuition reimbursement, retirement compensation, and professional development opportunities that allow clinicians to grow into specialized or leadership roles.
Employers from across the metro area and beyond participated, including Salem Health Hospitals, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Vancouver Clinic, PeaceHealth, Legacy Health, Samaritan Health Services, Providence Health & Services, Kaiser Permanente, and Oregon Health & Science University, among others. Legacy Health highlighted the value of meeting job-ready candidates in person.
“For a fast‑paced environment like urgent care, connecting with well‑prepared candidates is essential, and this job fair gives us that access,” said Lisa Stone, Regional Operations Manager, Legacy Market – East Region. “The event helps us identify individuals who are ready to step into clinical and support roles that require empathy, teamwork, and adaptability. PCC is a critical partner because their programs develop job‑ready graduates who understand real‑world healthcare demands.”
For Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, the event was about early connection.
“This event is about building genuine relationships with future and new grads, giving them a clear picture of careers in nursing and imaging,” said Amber Clark, Employer Brand Specialist. “Those early relationships help us bring passionate, skilled professionals onto our teams and continue providing excellent care to our communities.”
For more information, visit https://www.pcc.edu/careers/
Employers from across the metro area and beyond participated.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »