Hendrick launches healthcare academy for high school students

Hendrick Health continues to invest in the medical workforce of tomorrow with the recent launch of Healthcare Academy in partnership with Cisco College.

“Through the academy, high school students learn about all of the career options in healthcare,” said Toni Brockway, director of workforce development at Hendrick Health. “They often think of physicians and nurses, but there are many other rewarding specialties in medical settings as well.”

Other in-demand healthcare specialties include medical technologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, histotechnologist, case manager, speech language pathologist and surgical technologist.

The Healthcare Academy is for students in grades nine through 12. Participants attend a healthcare expo featuring various demonstrations of jobs in the medical field. In addition, they participate in an open lab at Cisco College to experience “a day in the life” of a healthcare student, and job shadow healthcare professionals at Hendrick Health.

Students who declare intent to pursue a healthcare career will have the opportunity to apply for scholarships for dual-credit classes. Tuition assistance for several post-high school healthcare academic programs also is available.

Approximately 50 students from Abilene, Clyde, Merkel, Panther Creek and other area high schools have been accepted into the inaugural Healthcare Academy group. In addition, Brockway and other Hendrick Health employees visit local and area high schools during the school year to promote healthcare careers.

The Healthcare Academy is part of Hendrick Health’s long-term workforce development strategy to partner with local and regional colleges and universities to grow its employee ranks in Abilene and Brownwood. The program exposes students to rewarding career opportunities close to their West Central Texas roots.