Healthcare-Focused High Schools Expand Nationwide Through $250M Bloomberg Investment

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Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire philanthropist invested $250 million into creating ten healthcare-focused high schools across the country in 2024. As he put it, "America needs more healthcare workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle class—and this is a way to help accomplish both goals." 

About Healthcare High Schools

Picture this: 9th graders shadowing nurses, 10th graders drawing blood in a sim lab, and 12th graders scoring jobs after their guaranteed interview with their program's hospital partner (like Memorial Hermann). By the time these kids graduate, they'll be ready to jump into jobs and if they're feeling extra ambitious, they can continue their education and climb that healthcare ladder. 

Students train in the following healthcare pathways: 

• Nursing
• Physical and Occupational Rehab
• Medical Imaging
• Pharmacy
• Medical Administration

The concept of specialized healthcare high schools represents a novel approach to addressing the healthcare workforce. By targeting students at the high school level, this initiative aims to spark early interest in healthcare careers and provide a solid foundation for future professionals. The partnership between these specialized schools and nearby health systems is designed to create a direct pipeline from education to employment, potentially streamlining the path for students to enter the healthcare workforce.

The healthcare-focused high schools will be established in the following cities with their respective hospital partners:

1. Boston, MA - Mass General Brigham
2. Charlotte, NC - Atrium Health
3. Dallas, TX - Baylor Scott & White
4. Durham, NC - Duke Health
5. Houston, TX - Memorial Hermann
6. Nashville, TN - Partner not specified
7. New York, NY - Northwell Health (in Queens)
8. Philadelphia, PA - Partner not specified
9. Demopolis, AL - Partner not specified
10. Northeast Tennessee (six locations) - Partners not specified

Bridging Education and Employment in Healthcare

One of the most promising aspects of this initiative is the commitment from partnering health systems to create job opportunities for graduates. This approach addresses a common challenge faced by many young professionals – the gap between education and practical work experience. By aligning the curriculum with the needs of local healthcare providers, students can gain relevant skills and knowledge that directly translate to job opportunities upon graduation.

The Program In Action - HEAL High School 

HEAL High School is in Houston, Texas, and it’s not your average school. Picture this—a bunch of ninth-graders learning CPR, shadowing healthcare professionals, and choosing between five career tracks like nursing or pharmacy tech. By graduation, they’ll have not just a high school diploma but professional certifications and up to 24 college credits. Oh, and a guaranteed interview at Memorial Hermann Health System. 

The program’s impact on the high schoolers is already being felt "I talked to you, and I didn’t have a stutter," one student told staff after a summer bedside manner workshop. 

But it’s not just about certifications and cool tech. This program is all about building confidence and breaking down barriers, especially for students from underserved communities. With mentors from Memorial Hermann, hands-on training, and monthly hospital visits, these students are literally seeing their future selves in scrubs.

One freshman, Ricardo Flores, put it best, "Visiting the hospital felt good because I felt like that was going to be me in the future."

And let’s talk about their upcoming simulation labs. Starting in 2025, students will practice in hospital-like setups with VR, mannequins, and real medical equipment. Imagine being 15 and already knowing how to handle a nursing station.

Sure, the program’s new, so there are kinks to iron out. Brooke Martin, one of the coordinators, says it’s like "flying the plane while building it—and writing the manual." But even with the challenges, the kids are thriving.

This program is empowering students to step into the high-demand world of healthcare, turning challenges into opportunities, and opening doors to a future filled with possibility and purpose through the power of a healthcare certificate and experience.