State's largest healthcare career fair keeps getting larger
KCO-Wichita attendance increased 17.5% in 2026, continuing a multiyear trend of growth; KCO-Salina also saw an uptick in attendees.
The state’s largest healthcare career fair drew 275 attendees to Wichita this year, continuing a trend of growth as healthcare providers and students explore career opportunities across Kansas.
The annual Kansas Career Opportunities (KCO) Healthcare Career Fair brought together healthcare providers, medical students and organizations serving rural and urban underserved communities on Oct. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Wichita.
KCO-Wichita attendance increased 17.5% from 2025 and 31.6% from 2024. A second event, held Oct. 8 at the Health Education Center in Salina, saw 84 attendees visit with exhibitors, a 17% increase over last year.
The growth reflects continued interest in exploring rural medicine while communities seek to strengthen their workforces.
“KCO is about more than filling positions,” said Joyce Grayson, director of Rural Health Education and Services, which hosts the career fairs. “It’s about helping healthcare providers find organizations and communities where they can build rewarding careers and put down roots. Seeing attendance grow in both Wichita and Salina is encouraging because it creates more opportunities for those connections to happen.”
At both events, providers and students had opportunities to explore job openings, meet potential employers and learn about the communities where they might build their careers. The fair also helps participants make connections and assess whether a position, organization or community would be a good fit.
KCO is organized to support healthcare recruitment and retention across Kansas, particularly in rural and underserved areas where attracting and keeping providers can be challenging.
See photos from the events:
Thank you to the providers, students and exhibitors who participated in this year’s events and helped advance efforts to strengthen Kansas’ healthcare workforce.
KCO’s Platinum supporters include Community Care Network of Kansas, PrairieStar Health Center, Hays Medical Center, Hutchinson Clinic, and Labette Health.