Vineyard health care providers are starting a new course to introduce more people to job opportunities on the Island.

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Island Health Care have joined with ACE MV and Cape Cod Community College’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education to create the five-week health professions seminar.

The sessions, held on Thursdays from Oct. 19 to Nov. 16, will be at the hospital and also available virtually. Topics include “what healthcare looks like on MV,” according to a statement from the hospital.

Participants will hear from healthcare leaders, as well as frontline professionals to gain insight on career paths. The sessions are free.

The new course comes as the need for healthcare workers far exceeds the number of applicants. Earlier this year the hospital had a 23 per cent job vacancy rate and 219 unfilled positions.

People wishing to attend can register at acemv.org, the center for corporate professional education or by email with courtney@acemv.org.