Greenberg, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in public health, is PCC’s Director of Workforce Capacity. It’s a new position responsible for implementing the initiative to increase the pipeline of culturally and linguistically diverse healthcare workers who mirror the community while providing economic opportunities for underemployed residents. The partnership among PCC, Nexus Montgomery, Montgomery College, and other community-based organizations aims to train residents for entry-level healthcare positions. These are stepping-stone roles trainees can enter relatively quickly and earn income while the program introduces them to broader healthcare opportunities. The program eases pressure on local provider capacity and costs in the near term while creating another recruitment mechanism for healthcare careers.
It’s a deliberate shift for Greenberg, whose background is at the policy level, helping healthcare organizations improve the quality of their care. During COVID, she felt the need to get back to helping people more directly.
“As a member of the Maryland Reserve Corps, I saw retired and inactive nurses and doctors come back into the workforce to help out, and I wanted to become a part of that,” said Greenberg. “After being in the first wave of nurses delivering COVID-19 vaccinations, I spent two years leading teams of nurses and patient care technicians providing COVID services to charter schools. It was exhilarating but challenging.”
“While I was interfacing with nurses and technicians at schools, I saw many who had to leave work for reasons that weren’t about the work itself—like childcare, transportation, and health issues. Language barriers and limited computer skills also presented challenges for many people to have sustainable employment. I got inspired to develop systems to help people become more successful,” said Greenberg.
“I became interested in how to make work more sustainable and rewarding and how to find ways to help people realize that health care is a good career choice,” said Greenberg. “At PCC, we will be creating systems to support people through some of the challenges and help them succeed in these jobs. We don’t want them to stay at the entry level; we hope they will see the job as the start of a career path.”
“Liza’s wealth of experience is so compelling,” said Mindy Pierce, senior director of PCC’s Nexus Montgomery and Population Health Programs. “She has the skills to lead this work and the passion for equity that will set this program apart. It’s not just about jobs and cost and return on investment—though all those things matter. It’s about how we bring them together as a major investment in population health.”
Greenberg said she was drawn to the new PCC position because it offers a professional opportunity to make a difference in her own community. Much of her previous work was done at the national level.
“I have lived in the Montgomery County community for almost 30 years, and I love being able to focus on local issues at PCC,” said Greenberg. “This position allows me to partner with the six Montgomery County hospitals and work with community-based organizations. They are doing important work! I am excited to be a part of it and to work with these partners to make the workforce programs even better for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Montgomery County.”
As a recent empty-nester, Greenberg volunteers and has taken up pickleball. She finds her volunteer work with animal rescue groups rewarding. She fosters animals, participates in transports, and writes pet profiles to attract potential adopters. For anyone interested in volunteering, she notes that animal rescue groups need help with various tasks, including directly caring for animals and indirectly in roles such as adoption counselors or medical liaisons for foster and shelter animals.
For those who haven’t met or worked with Greenberg yet, don’t miss the chance to see her on stage at The AMP by Strathmore on November 15. PCC's 2023 Storytelling Show reception starts at 6:30 p.m., and storytellers take the stage at 7:30 p.m.