Friday October 3, 2025
Boosting Healthcare Hiring with Student Loan Relief
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. ET)
Recruiting and retaining top talent has always been a challenge for hospitals and health systems, but financial stress is now driving turnover and burnout to crisis levels. Now that federal student loan repayments have resumed after a five-year pause, healthcare workers – many of whom have student debt from advanced degrees – face even heavier financial burdens. While hospitals are pressed by budget constraints and rising benefits costs, there is a major untapped opportunity: free federal student loan programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). These programs can unlock tens of thousands of dollars in savings for healthcare workers at no cost to hospitals, but they are notoriously complex to navigate. In this session, an expert panel will share how HR leaders can leverage PSLF and related programs to strengthen recruiting, simplify program complexity, and improve employee retention.
Sponsored by:
Objectives
Why student debt is now a critical workforce issue.
How PSLF and other programs unlock free dollars for healthcare workers.
What successful implementation looks like in practice.
Price
ASHHRA Member: FREE
ASHHRA Non-member: $25.00 FREE
Credit(s)
1 (CHHR, ACHE Fellowship*, HRCI, SHRM) for live webinar attendees.
*By attending the Boosting Healthcare Hiring with Student Loan Relief live webinar offered by ASHHRA participants may earn up to 1 ACHE Qualified Education hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.
Presenters
Rich Williams
Chief Customer Officer
Summer
Rich Williams is the Chief Customer Officer at Summer. Rich most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy, Planning, and Innovation at the U.S. Department of Education, leading high-impact college affordability and student loan repayment initiatives affecting students at over 6,000 colleges and more than 40 million student loan borrowers. He previously held senior roles at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and in the U.S. Congress. His expertise on student loans has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
Summer Jenkins
Vice President of Human Resources
Hurley Medical Center
A highly experienced Human Resources professional with over 20 years in the HR industry, including 14 years of dedicated service at Hurley Medical Center. As Vice President of Human Resources, leads critical functions including recruitment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, and organizational development. Prior to current role, excelled as a Benefits, Compensation, and Recruitment Manager, and previously as a Benefits and Compensation Manager and Benefits Coordinator, consistently contributing to the hospital’s HR effectiveness. Expertise lies in strategic HR program administration, talent acquisition, and fostering a positive work environment.
Jemila Stewart
Vice President of Broker Relations
Summer
Jemila Stewart is the Vice President of Broker Relations at Summer, the leading student loan assistance platform. With over 20 years of experience in partner relations, her expertise includes cultivating partner relationships, navigating channel sales, and contributing to the development of dynamic partner marketplaces, all aimed at enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. Jemila is recognized for her natural teaching ability and talent for connecting people, always approaching challenges with optimism and a belief in collaborative success.
