As guardians of our health and well-being, health care workers are the backbone of a secure society. Yet even before the devastating toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of skilled personnel left millions without the medical attention and quality care they needed. 4.5 billion people – about half the world’s population – were not covered by essential health services as of 2021. While the gap is felt disproportionately in countries experiencing high rates of poverty, the shortage of health care workers is felt by every country. The World Health Organization estimates a global shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, with shortages likely concentrated in low- and lower-middle- income countries.