By Jon Moskin
Edwin Cabigao was proud of what he accomplished during his original tenure at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (the Campus). And he had a lot to be proud of, including elevating the clinic staff to perform at their highest level, providing excellent care. But after nine years as Chief Nursing Officer, he was ready for new challenges. Indeed, his perpetual quest for growth has marked a healthcare career that took him from CNA to RN to RN PhD.
He taught, he volunteered, he consulted, he served as an expert witness, and, in the for-profit space, he managed a mind-blowing 35 skilled nursing facilities.
And, of course, we wanted him back.
There was one problem, though. He didn’t want to come. Not yet. And it wasn’t about money, or his commute, or work-life balance, or his love for our community, or any of the things we often think are central to workplace fulfillment.
It was about his dream.
“I wanted to open a school,” he said.
Several months (and many conversations) later, Edwin is back. And his dream has come true.
“We want to change lives. Not just titles, or salaries, or people’s confidence, but their family’s future.”
– Edwin Cabigao RN, PhD
The newly minted Campus Academy was born and has accepted its first cohort of certified nursing assistant students into its inaugural class.
“We wanted to initiate the program by focusing on our own staff first,” Edwin said. “Housekeeping, kitchen employees, laundry workers, and even their children and relatives. We wanted to honor them and their families and give them greater opportunities in the healthcare industry…because they are our family.”
It’s also, according to Edwin, how he started.
“I was a CNA. It was my pathway into healthcare. And the healthcare industry needs help.”
A Growing Population in Need of Care
According to recent data, by 2040, the number of Americans over 65 will reach nearly 80 million. Additionally, the population over 85, the fastest-growing segment, is projected to exceed 14 million. Yet the workforce required to meet this demand is not growing fast enough. By 2030, the US is projected to face a shortage of 150,000 direct care workers, which will increase to 355,000 by 2040.
So, this program is a win for our seniors as well as our staff who are being offered an introduction to not only the healthcare industry but also leadership positions on our Campus and within the greater community.
That’s because the curriculum goes beyond California Department of Public Health requirements. In addition to core CNA training, students receive leadership development and certification in Conscious Touch, an energy-based healing modality practiced at the facility.
“It’s much more than just preparing them for a job,” Edwin said. “It’s about helping them see that this can be the beginning.”
Generous Grants Get CNA Program Off the Ground
Alas, there was one more potentially daunting obstacle facing our inaugural class of CNA students: affordability. Education isn’t cheap. But here’s the best part. It will not cost them one dime.
“A few months ago, when we were pitching this project, we received some incredibly generous grants from donors who believed in the program as much as we did,” Edwin said. “And Stacy Lewis, our Chief Development Officer, came back to my office and said, ‘We should be paying them. We have the money now. So, let’s make it an earn and learn program.’”
And that’s exactly what happened. Tuition, books, and uniforms will all be taken care of, and at the culmination of the five-week program, students will have guaranteed job placement. It’s the right thing to do as a community—to take care of the people who will soon be taking care of us.