GO-NORTH Rural Healthcare Initiative
Rural Healthcare in New Hampshire
UNH leads a statewide clinical training infrastructure that connects rural communities, providers, and students — and innovates accelerated career pathways from high school through graduate school to grow the rural healthcare workforce.
$15.6M
CMS funding awarded to date
5 Years
Statewide implementation
3+
Education systems united
Federal investment
In New Hampshire's rural communities
2
Major program pillars: simulation infrastructure and Governor’s Health Awards
Statewide
Coverage via mobile and place-based simulation hubs
High School thru Grad School
Accelerated pathways across all education levels
About the initative
Transforming How New Hampshire Trains & Retains Healthcare Talent
Through Governor Ayotte's GO-NORTH initiative, the Â鶹app will play a central leadership role across the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) — partnering with the Community College System of NH, private educational institutions, and rural healthcare providers to design and implement innovative workforce strategies.
These efforts focus on attracting, training, and retaining highly skilled rural healthcare professionals — expanding training capacity, upskilling the current workforce, and strengthening rural healthcare delivery systems across the state.
UNH is honored to lead this statewide effort to connect rural communities, providers, and students — creating career opportunities and supporting the health care needs of Granite Staters."
— Kirsten Corazzini, Dean, UNH College of Health and Human Services
Cooperative Simulation Learning Infrastructure
A statewide network of place-based clinical simulation hubs and mobile simulation units that bring advanced, hands-on training directly into rural and underserved communities across New Hampshire. No community left behind from cutting-edge clinical education.
The Governor's Health Awards Program
Designed to increase the number of healthcare professionals working in rural New Hampshire. The program creates clear pathways into healthcare careers and provides support for learners at every stage — from high school students to graduate-level professionals.
"USNH, working alongside the Community College System of New Hampshire, private educational partners, and in full collaboration with communities and providers, looks forward to growing our rural healthcare workforce through sustainable innovation."
Kirsten Corazzini · Dean, UNH College of Health and Human Services
Accelerated Pathways
Too many students never find their way into healthcare careers because the road looks too long, too expensive, or too uncertain. GO-NORTH changes that. By connecting high school programs, community colleges, universities, and graduate schools into a single coordinated system, we've built an on-ramp at every stage — so whether you're a sophomore in Colebrook or a working nurse in Laconia looking to advance, there's a pathway with your name on it.
High School
Early healthcare exposure & career awareness
Community College
Technical credentials & clinical training
University
Bachelor's & advanced degrees via USNH and partner insitutions
Graduate / Professional
Medical school, NP, PA & specialty programs
Rural Practice
Placed & retained in NH rural communities
Ensuring Every Granite Stater Has Access
A durable, sustainable, statewide healthcare workforce development model — expanding opportunity for learners and strengthening community health systems.
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $204,016,550.20 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government