Citizens Memorial Hospital joins The Alliance for Healthcare Education as a workforce affiliate

Growth
• 27 August 2025

Citizens Memorial Hospital has joined The Alliance for Healthcare Education as a workforce affiliate, expanding career pathways and bringing the voice of rural health care to Missouri’s future workforce.

The announcement was made as The Alliance for Healthcare Education celebrated a major milestone Monday (Aug. 25), breaking ground on a $15 million expansion at Cox North Hospital.

Launched in 2023 as the first-of-its-kind model in the nation, The Alliance unites healthcare providers, higher education institutions and K–12 schools to create seamless, affordable pathways into healthcare careers.

Monday's ceremony highlighted not only the expansion of facilities, but also the expansion of partnerships—with Burrell Behavioral Health and Citizens Memorial Hospital officially joining The Alliance as workforce affiliates.

“This expansion is about more than bricks and mortar—it’s about creating opportunity at scale,” said Shallina Goodnight, Executive Director of The Alliance for Healthcare Education. “We’re building a system where a high school junior, an adult looking for a fresh start, or a current healthcare worker ready to upskill can all find an affordable, clear path to a meaningful career. By joining forces with Burrell and CMH, we’re ensuring that behavioral health and rural healthcare are front and center in shaping the future workforce.”

Michael Calhoun, CEO/Executive Director of Citizens Memorial Hospital and CMH Foundation, reflected on the importance of rural access: "Rural health care depends on homegrown talent. By partnering with The Alliance, we’re making sure students from rural communities not only have access to world-class training but also a clear path to remain home and serve. This expansion is a lifeline for rural Missouri and the patients who count on us."

The Alliance was founded through a partnership among CoxHealth, Springfield Public Schools, Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College, later joined by Evangel University. With the addition of affiliates such as CMH and Burrell Behavioral Health, the organization continues to align education and health care resources to remove barriers, strengthen partnerships and support Missouri’s future health care workforce.

Learn more about The Alliance.