Healthcare Careers Academy

The future health of our community depends on preparing tomorrow's workforce. The Healthcare Careers Academy is a unique collaboration of Tacoma Public Schools, healthcare industry, higher education and nonprofits that prepares high school students for a wide-range of careers in the healthcare industry.

This four-year, part-time high school program is offered at Stadium and Mount Tahoma High Schools. Students engage in four years of specific pathway curriculum and experiences that enhance student learning and promote healthcare careers.

Ninth and tenth grade is dedicated to exploring passions, making connections to healthcare careers, and engaging in exploratory coursework that is both rigorous and experiential.

Students dive more deeply into career exploration and intense coursework in eleventh and twelfth grade, students receive hands-on experience in a chosen healthcare industry internship (NextMove internship). Students are supported by their industry mentor, a career internship coach, skilled teachers, and academic tutors throughout the program.

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HCA Partnerships 

The Tacoma Healthcare Careers Collaborative provides students with equitable access to world-class learning environments focused on medical careers. Partners from the region’s health care, educational and philanthropic communities work in concert to optimize resources and leverage assets to address community needs, including pathways and credentialing programs co-located within Tacoma’s Medical Mile.

Tacoma Healthcare Careers Collaborative Advisory Board

Lois Bernstein, Chief Community Executive, MultiCare Health System

Laurie Brown, RN, Chief Experience Officer, CHI Franciscan Health

Kathy Schmidt, Marketing Manager, CHI Francican Health

Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, Chancellor, University of Washington Tacoma

Joshua Knudson, Vice Chancellor of Advancement, University of Washington Tacoma

Ivan Harrell, President, Tacoma Community College

Krista Fox, Dean, Health, Business and Professional Services, Tacoma Community College

Dr. Lin Zhou, President, Bates Technical College

Lori Keller, Campus Dean for Allied Health & Career Training, Bates Technical Collage

Isiaah Crawford, President, Univeristy of Puget Sound

John Hickey, Executive Director of Community Engagement, University of Puget Sound

Lori Fort-Harnick, President and CEO, Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region

Eu-Wanda Eagans, Senior Vice-Preisdent, Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region

Dr. Kathi Littman, CEO and President, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Dr. Josh Garcia, Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools

Carla Santorno, Superintendent on Special Assignment, Tacoma Public Schools

Toni Pace, Assistant Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools

John Page, Director of Career and Technical Education, Tacoma Public Schools