Northwestern Medicine Receives National Employer of the Year Award

West Plains, MO, February 21, 2025 – The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) today announced Northwestern Medicine as the recipient of the 2025 NAWDP Employer of the Year. The organization will be recognized during an awards ceremony at NAWDP’s 41st Annual Workforce Conference in Virginia Beach, VA on May 5-7, 2025.

“The Employer of the Year award recognizes a private-sector employer or employer consortium that partners and collaborates with their local workforce partners and therefore makes a positive impact on their community, workers, and other employers,” said Melissa Robbins, NAWDP’s Chief Executive Officer. “Northwestern Medicine’s commitment to building stronger communities and improving health through strategic partnerships, such as with The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, is remarkable.”

Northwestern Medicine is a system of 11 hospitals across the Chicagoland area, with more than 38,000 employees. They are committed to building stronger communities by helping remove barriers to better health. Its mission is to improve the health of the community by providing advanced healthcare and fostering an inclusive environment where every interaction with patients, families, and co-workers has the potential to make a profound impact.

Through their partnership with The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, they have been able to source and recruit talent from under-resourced neighborhoods to support better communities across Chicagoland. Their collaboration has resulted in placing more than 100 residents in careers with Northwestern Medicine, with 25 participating in an On-The-Job Training program through its Healthcare Sector Center.

“Northwestern Medicine is proud to accept the 2025 NAWDP Employer of the Year Award,” said Mandee Polonsky, Director, Community Health, Northwestern Medicine. “As the third largest private employer in the state of Illinois, NM invests in the communities we serve by employing diverse individuals and providing innovative training, education and workforce development initiatives that help drive economic growth for the places we live and work.”