Innovative Medical Sciences Academy Puts High School Students on Track for Future Career in Health Care

Developing the next generation of caregivers has taken on even more of a priority as national caregiver shortages have worsened in the wake of the pandemic.

A new and innovative initiative from Baptist Health seeks to help that next generation of caregivers take the first step into a health care career in the early stages of high school.

Through another new partnership in 2022, Baptist Health and the Little Rock School District created the Baptist Health Academy of Medical Sciences at Southwest High School in Little Rock. Students in this program will benefit from enhanced learning opportunities throughout their four years in high school.

The program aims to not only foster the growth of more health care professionals in central Arkansas but also provide a new avenue for high school students to start pursuing an interest in health care earlier and be more prepared for the next steps after high school.

In the 2022-23 school year, freshmen students at Southwest are gaining career exposure through guest lecturers and career opportunity showcases. Sophomores get to tour Baptist Health locations to view firsthand different aspects of the health care industry, and juniors have job shadowing opportunities within Baptist Health.

For the 2023-24 school year, the current juniors will take part in capstone projects as seniors and have internship opportunities at Baptist Health. The capstone project will be a multifaceted assignment revolving around health care and serve as the academic culmination of students’ involvement in the academy program.

Additionally, Baptist Health is providing Southwest High School with curriculum and credentialing advice, mentorship, and expertise on project-based learning embedded into coursework in both core academics and career classes.

Future plans call for Baptist Health representatives to guide the creation of a regional industry council and school advisory board. The system is also providing equipment and other resources for the implementation of the medical sciences pathway of study.

As part of the commitment from Baptist Health, teachers at Southwest High School have opportunities to participate in externships at a Baptist Health facility as part of their professional development and have access to professional learning communities.

This partnership is part of the Academies of Central Arkansas project, an initiative of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce with the four school districts in Pulaski County that utilizes the Ford Next Generation model of enhancing the public high school experience by blending core academics with career education. Baptist Health is the first business organization in the area to join the Academies of Central Arkansas project.