By PATTI SHEA

I was privileged enough to attend the Hispanic Women’s League Gala this year and meet some really incredible women.

The words spoken by several amazing women had a profound impact on me and gave me so much purpose to follow through on the mission for a career pathway for women who do not have English as their primary language.

I work as the Director of Talent Acquisition and Development for Living Legends Health. The branded names for our portfolios are The McGuire Group, Absolut Care, Vestra and Taconic Healthcare. We were established in 1973 in Buffalo and currently home to almost 400 aging adults in Chautauqua County and 600 employees and more than 3,000 adults across New York and 7,000 employees.

The purpose for my letter is to seek support as our company establishes a strong career path for community members who may not have considered healthcare as an option due to language barriers. Our company has created pathways for so many individuals that start in one or two departments, grow and develop skills to support their career into nursing or administration and other leadership roles, offering secure long-term opportunities as far as the individual is willing to reach for. Until recently, that pathway was limiting for so many who do not have English as a primary language.

Recently, I discovered the Department of Health in New York state does not offer a bilingual exam for students seeking to become certified nursing assistants.

While we as a company and a team of other healthcare organizations are taking that challenge to Albany, I decided personally to seek the help of our communities to change the disadvantage in the Hispanic community of Dunkirk and city of Buffalo if English is not the primary language.

I started asking more questions — only to find the disparity in resources offered for English language learners. Until New York state allows healthcare exams in Spanish, our community members who may not have English as a primary language, have a disadvantage. This disadvantage impacts the number of caregivers the community needs for our aging population, and the opportunities if English is not the primary language.

It has become a priority for me personally to identify partners, seek support to learn, and turn to the community to share the message that a career in healthcare is possible through the ESL program offered at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehab.

I am hopeful to gain the support needed to encourage a career in healthcare so our aging population continues to have the care they deserve.

Patti Shea is Director of Talent Acquisition and Development for Living Legends Health, based in Cheektowaga.