Henry Ford Health hosts Windsor hiring event amid cross-border competition for healthcare workers

Henry Ford Hospital is actively recruiting in Windsor. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has details

Detroit-based Henry Ford Health crossed the border Thursday to host a Canadian hiring event at Windsor’s Caboto Club, hoping to attract healthcare workers willing to commute or relocate to fill persistent staffing gaps in the United States.

The event offered on-the-spot interviews, information on cross-border employment and access to immigration lawyers who guided applicants through visa and certification processes.

Ajay Parikh, vice-president of talent acquisition at Henry Ford Health, said the organization has more than 3,000 open positions across its hospital system — including over 800 nursing roles.

“We have all kinds of full-time, part-time and contingent roles,” Parikh said. “Whatever fits your schedule, we have it open.”

Parikh said Windsor’s proximity to Detroit makes it an ideal recruiting ground, with more than 800 Canadian nurses already working in Henry Ford facilities.

“Henry Ford is in one of the best locations for Windsor residents,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for team members to work internationally and get that experience. Not everybody is that lucky.”

The company offers immigration assistance, onboarding and certification support, and sign-on bonuses for certain roles ranging from $20,000 to $25,000, Parikh added.

While some Canadian healthcare professionals are considering U.S. opportunities, officials at Windsor Regional Hospital say the number of local nursing vacancies is at historic lows.

The hospital says its current shortage is in diagnostic imaging, not nursing, and it has launched a new national recruitment campaign to attract medical radiation technologists.

A new website promotes opportunities in MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray and nuclear medicine. The campaign, launched during Medical Radiation Technologists Week, includes potential signing bonuses of up to $25,000.

“The image is clear — your future is here,” the hospital said in a social-media post, describing Windsor-Essex as a diverse community with advanced imaging technology and flexible scheduling options.

At the Caboto Club, immigration attorney Scott Boyer said most Canadian nurses qualify for a TN visa under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, formerly known as NAFTA.

“The majority of the people here today are registered nurses … and generally, for that type of position, you only need an associate’s degree or greater,” Boyer said.

Boyer noted a long-standing shortage of healthcare workers in the U.S. is driving cross-border recruitment.

“There’s been a categorical deficit of healthcare workers in the U.S. for many years, and that’s not going to go away any time soon,” he said. “As long as the demand is there, we’ll keep coming and providing opportunities.”

For Windsor nursing student Madison Coste, the chance to meet recruiters was encouraging.

“There’s a lot of positions open,” Coste told CTV News. “Coming from someone who’s about to be a new grad nurse, looking for full-time positions is something I would love — especially since I want to start my career right away and I want to jump full in.”

Fellow job seeker Danielle Leblanc, a dual citizen in her fourth year at the University of Windsor, said she’s heard positive things about Henry Ford from friends already working there.

“They talk really highly about it,” she said. “It’s a really good work environment, good team, less stress.”

The cross-border hiring effort comes amid ongoing economic and political tensions between Canada and the United States, but organizers say collaboration remains essential — and for many healthcare professionals, opportunity continues to outweigh politics.

Henry Ford Health representatives say roughly 200 job seekers were expected on Thursday, adding they plan to return to Windsor for future recruitment events as long as demand for skilled healthcare workers remains high.