Introducing young people to different career possibilities early in life helps them make informed choices as adults.
Especially when it comes to a field as vast and complex as healthcare, early exposure demystifies the many clinical and non-clinical opportunities available.
But traditional initiatives like career fairs and bring-your-child-to-work days aren’t immersive enough for participants to see themselves as nurses or hospital administrators.
Forward-thinking health systems have a new approach to early career education and training.
They’re developing youth programs that bring healthcare professions to life and create clear, accessible pathways to enter the field.
These programs empower young people in the community, unlock new talent pipelines, and help relieve the staffing shortages that have plagued U.S. health systems in recent years.
Whether you’re starting a healthcare education youth program from scratch or iterating on an existing one, here’s how to build one with real impact.
Meet students where they are
Introduce students to a diversity of healthcare roles as early as possible, from specialized clinical roles to administrative positions. Many existing programs are made for high school students, but there’s no reason your program can’t start in middle or elementary school.
Early, broad exposure to healthcare careers improves students’ understanding and awareness of different options, addresses misconceptions, and helps them identify roles that interest them.
Teach in a developmentally appropriate and hands-on way.
Tailoring instruction to the students you’re working with and incorporating practical experiences fosters engagement, curiosity, and confidence. It helps them picture themselves in these roles.
Support students on their journey
Connect students to peer networks and structured mentorship with experienced healthcare professionals.
Students who feel supported feel more capable and confident. They also graduate and go on to pursue healthcare careers at higher rates.
You might also consider offering academic support, transportation, or health and wellness resources.
Depending on the population you’re working with, and how you set up your program, these additions can help students overcome challenges and achieve success.
Show them what the future looks like
Establish clear pathways from early career exposure to employment opportunities within your health system and beyond.
When students know the route from point A to point B, they are better prepared for the next steps, more motivated to continue on their path, and more agile when obstacles arise.
When their training includes real-world experience like internships and job shadowing, they understand what the job requires and what the rewards look like at every step.
Work hand-in-hand with your local community
Effective youth programs mutually benefit your institution and the community it serves.
In addition to solving your workforce shortage and building out a talent pipeline, consider how to achieve shared goals like career mobility, economic growth, and better local healthcare services.
It’s important to collaborate with educational institutions and other organizations in the area to ensure your program is tailored to local needs and works with the resources available.
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Learn from or partner with established youth programs
Effective youth programs strengthen community connections, build trust, and help your institution develop a sustainable pipeline.
They also teach students about local healthcare needs and how best to approach them.
Example 1: Memorial Hermann’s HEAL Program (Houston, TX)
Memorial Hermann Health System’s new Health Education and Learning (HEAL) program introduces healthcare careers to rising ninth graders and works with them all four years.
It’s supported by a $31 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and aims to improve Houston’s local healthcare infrastructure, economy, and health outcomes.
At the same time, it alleviates Memorial Hermann’s workforce shortage.
HEAL kicks off with summer programming that familiarizes students with the hospital and teaches them skills like first aid and taking vital signs.
From day one, Memorial Hermann employees provide guidance and individual support to students.
Over the next two years, students will shadow different roles and practice skills in simulation labs. This broad exposure helps them envision the variety of career possibilities the healthcare sector offers.
In eleventh grade, they advance to working paid internships and receive close mentorship from professionals in the same role.
Through a gradual release of responsibility, students develop both the technical and soft skills they need to succeed in healthcare.
They also help nurses and allied health workers perform at the top of their licenses by taking on non-clinical tasks that usually fall on them.
When HEAL students graduate high school, Memorial Hermann offers them full-time jobs, opening the doors to healthcare careers with promising trajectories.
Example 2: CareerWise (NY, DC, IN, MI, CO)
The CareerWise high school program takes a similar approach.
Spanning five states, the program partners with health systems to offer two to three year-long earn-while-you-learn youth apprenticeships.
If your institution is looking to launch a youth program in New York, DC, Indiana, Michigan, or Colorado, CareerWise is a great starting point.
CareerWise integrates classroom learning with hands-on job training in real healthcare settings.
They also teach professionalism—everything from writing work emails to keeping patient health records confidential to being on time for work.
CareerWise apprentices work closely with experienced mentors to outline clear career pathways and the steps to get there.
As apprentices grow their skills and confidence, they take on more and more responsibilities.
Eventually, they transition into entry-level roles like patient care tech, phlebotomist, or nursing assistant.
In New York City, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is a CareerWise site.
At MSK, trainees participate in apprenticeships like radiology, supply chain, and even finance.
Radiology apprentices begin as radiology aides while taking radiography prerequisites. They later attend a radiography program at a local partner school and rotate among MSK’s different campuses. As they complete coursework and learn the day-to-day, they take on more complex tasks.
When they graduate from high school, apprentices work part-time at MSK while completing more coursework and clinical hours. From there, they enter full-time roles, and many stay at MSK for years.
In addition to preparing them for a career in healthcare, the paycheck apprentices earn through the program helps them save for their education, contribute to their families, and gain economic mobility.
Graduates also go on to pursue postsecondary healthcare education and get jobs in healthcare at much higher rates than age-matched peers.
Programs like HEAL and CareerWise open the doors to rewarding, well-paid careers for the next generation. At the same time, they build a highly trained workforce for your health system and position you as an employer of choice and an important pillar of your community.
