Durbin Appointed New Executive Director to Continue Momentum

Oklahoma City – The governing board of the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center (OHCWC) has appointed Jim Durbin as the executive director for the organization. Durbin will lead efforts to establish and position the Center to address both current and future health care workforce needs in Oklahoma. His position became effective on January 27.

“We are delighted to have Jim onboard with the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center. He brings a wealthof knowledge, leadership and experience to his new role,” said Dr. Phil Berkenbile, chair of the OHCWC governing board and state director for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Previously, Durbin has served as the executive director of the INTEGRIS Rural Health Foundation where he worked with hospital presidents across the state. He worked specifically to identify ways to increase philanthropic giving for each of the nine rural INTEGRIS hospitals, while managing campaigns, overseeing the development production and distribution of fundraising proposals, and implementing a redesigned governance structure for bylaws and certificates of incorporation.

From 2002-2006, Durbin exemplified his leadership skills in his role as the director of institutional advancement at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School. He increased the school’s enrollment by 30 percent, raised $6 million for an endowment (including $4 million from co-sponsors) and had the school operating more successfully within two years. Durbin also has experience in budgeting, financial analysis, proposal writing and marketing reports, which will complement him in his new position at the Center.

Some of Durbin’s responsibilities include developing, planning, (along with the OHCWC governing board and board committees), and implementing long-term and short-term goals to advance the work of the OHCWC. As an accomplished presenter with more than four years of experience as an adjunct consultant for the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, he will serve as the primary spokesperson, representing OHCWC and/or providing reports and presentations to interested groups and the public. Durbin’s focus also involves formulating strategies to market OHCWC’s mission, its services and products.

In addition, Durbin will pursue grant funding for OHCWC projects, while collaborating with other stakeholders such as schools of nursing and allied health, healthcare employers, health professionals, health-related associations, economic and workforce development professionals, and others to promote improvement in health care workforce issues.

“I am excited about Jim’s passion for the Center's work and its goals,” commented Dr. Debbie Blanke, vice chair of the OHCWC governing board and the designee for Glen D. Johnson, Chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. “I think he will do a great job.”

If current health care trends continue, Oklahoma is expected to have a shortage of more than 3,000 nurses, 500 lab technicians, 400 physical therapists, 300 surgical technologists and 200 occupational therapists by 2012. Other clinical workers in short supply include pharmacists, imaging technologists, emergency responders, mental health care professionals and respiratory therapists.

The primary goals of OHCWC are to: 1) Ensure current education and training systems have the needed resources and support to produce the needed numbers of health care graduates, 2) Increase job satisfaction and retention of employees in health care settings by sharing resources and best practices with employers; and 3) Increase awareness of health career opportunities in Oklahoma.

Other individuals serving on OHCWC’s governing board are: Sen. Brian Crain (R-Tulsa); Sen. Susan Paddack (D-Ada); Rep. Wes Hilliard (D-Sulphur); Rep. Corey Holland (R-Marlow); Dr. Sherri Baker, representing the Statewide Association for Allopathic Physicians; Dr. Michael K. Cooper, representing the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association; Dr. Steve Eddy, professor of family medicine, director of continuing medical education, representing the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences; Dr. Doyle Fortney, chief of human resources, Oklahoma State Department of Health representing the Commissioner of Health; Jill Geiger, budget coordinator, representing the Office of State Finance; Claudean Harrison, representing the general public as a lay member; Stanley Hupfeld, Chair of the Integris Family of Foundations; representing the statewide association representing urban and rural hospitals; Marietta Lynch, RN, director of quality services, Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, representing the long-term care industry; Dr. Ramona Paul, assistant state superintendent of public instruction, designee for the state superintendent of public instruction; Dr. Kevin Rudeen, dean, College of Allied Health, representing the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Chris Weigel, chief operating officer/chief nursing officer, McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital, representing the Statewide Association for Nurses; and Terri White, secretary of health, Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse services.

To date, support for the Center has come from in-kind contributions or financial contributions from the following organizations: the Oklahoma Hospital Association, Tulsa Hospital Council, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma State Department of Health and hospitals across Oklahoma.   

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The Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center is a private non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating Oklahoma’s health care worker shortages. The Center focuses on increasing the level of awareness among young people of the many opportunities available in a health career. The OHCWC was created through legislation (SB 1394) in 2006 and is privately incorporated. It operates as a public/private partnership.