What you need to know
Announced during the inaugural State of Healthcare Workforce Forum Aug. 26, the Central Texas Healthcare Academy will launch in the fall of 2026.
Ashley King, director of healthcare partnerships at Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and Garrett Groves, vice chancellor of strategic innovations at ACC, said the partnership will create structured pathways for high school students into healthcare careers.
Initial funding is provided by the St. David's Foundation, Groves said, via a grant of over $700,000, as well as other local partnerships.
The details
The academy will focus on five specific career areas to address industry workforce shortages, King said, with students in each pathway earning certifications and credentials specific to that particular position:
- Professional Nursing: Associate of Applied Science
- Surgical Technology: Associate of Applied Science and sterile processing certification
- Diagnostic Medical Imaging-Radiology: Associate of Applied Science, imaging medical aide, licensed medical radiology technician
- Emergency Medical Services: Associate of Applied Science, EMT paramedic
- Health Information Technology: Associate of Applied Science
What's next?
King said the program aims to recruit about 500 students from each district, starting in the next couple of months, with plans to potentially expand to other school districts.
