HOUSTON — Next fall, Aldine ISD is launching a new program in partnership with Memorial Hermann that will train high school students for careers in the medical field.
The “HEAL” program will operate out of Nimitz 9th Grade School in the 2024-2025 school year.
“This coming fall, we’ll open with 9th grade. We’ll have 190 students in five high-demand pathways,” said Adrian Bustillos, chief transformation officer at Aldine ISD.
Those five options include physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, clinical administration, and imaging.
Dr. David Callender, CEO and president of Memorial Hermann Health System, said those positions have become challenging to fill.
“We’re short of the people we need now and into the future. The pipeline, if you will, just isn’t big enough,” he said.
A $31 million grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies makes the “HEAL” High School a reality.
Aldine is one of 10 communities in the country launching the program.
Bustillos said eventually the school will have space for more than 700 kids.
“Every time we ask students, ‘Who wants to be a doctor? Who wants to be a nurse?’ They all raise their hands. Then we ask, ‘How many of you know nurses or doctors?’ Their hands go down,” he said.
Bustillos said Aldine is currently a healthcare desert. He’s hopeful helping students pursue good careers in the medical field will help the whole community.