# Hampton Roads: Strengths, Challenges & the Future of Its Workforce

 ![Mark Dreyfus - In the News](https://www.ecpi.edu/sites/default/files/2026-10/MDreyfusV2.jpg)

Hampton Roads leaders say workforce shortages and rapid technology change are testing the region's largest employers and its colleges.

[Mark Dreyfus](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-dreyfus-374386), President of ECPI University, shared his perspective on nursing demand and the future of higher education in [*Virginia Business*](https://virginiabusiness.com/), a statewide publication covering Virginia's economy. The feature asks six regional executives how their organizations are meeting those pressures.

[Read the full piece](https://virginiabusiness.com/executive-insights-9/) to see what Dreyfus and other leaders have to say.

## Why is demand for nursing so high in Hampton Roads?

A shortage of more than 17,000 registered nurses in Virginia is driving demand for nursing careers, and for the programs that train people to enter them. Dreyfus says hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities are already feeling the pressure of that gap.

Higher education has to keep pace to meet this challenge. Dreyfus argues that colleges need to stay closely tied to what employers and students need, which includes keeping up with changes in the field. "Technology changes too quickly for curriculum to remain static," he says.

## How is ECPI University helping close Virginia's nursing gap?

Nursing is the most popular area of study at ECPI University, with almost 40% of students enrolled in [nursing programs](https://www.ecpi.edu/college-of-nursing) today. Over the past decade, the University has graduated more than 7,200 nursing professionals in Virginia.

Training centers on practical experience, so graduates arrive ready for real hospital settings. Students build clinical judgment through [simulation-based training](https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/why-simulation-based-training-essential-healthcare-education), and the cohort model builds the [communication habits](https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news/soft-skills-healthcare-career-success) that care teams rely on.

Recently, ECPI University launched its [Physician Assistant program](https://www.ecpi.edu/programs/master-science-physician-assistant), designed to give students another path into healthcare as demand for care continues to grow. It also gives Hampton Roads another source of [the professionals its healthcare teams need](https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/physician-assistant-workforce-education-virginia).

 [View All In the News Articles](https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news)