Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health is rolling out a new initiative with a goal to train 5,000 students by 2030 to get them on the healthcare career pathway.
The initiative, NextGen Scholars, will work with high school students from diverse and Title 1 school backgrounds. The health system is also investing $1.7 million into Folsom (Calif.) Lake College as a pilot for the program and plans to expand the program to schools across the Los Rios Community College District in Folsom and in other Central Coast and Northern California areas, according to a June 6 news release shared with Becker's.
"We see this collaboration as a way to eliminate some of the barriers that can get in the way of meaningful employment in the health care sector, address workforce needs and ultimately enhance health outcomes across our communities," Keri Thomas, vice president of external affairs at Sutter Health, said in the release.
The pilot at Folsom Lake College will allow students from Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, Calif., to choose a healthcare career, go to classes and secure Sutter care facility work experience. From there, the goal is for the students to work toward a community college certificate in their field of interest.
Some of the areas being explored for certificates include emergency medical technicians, nursing assistants and radiology technicians. Some certification offerings down the line will include surgical technicians and medical assistants. Once the students earn their certification, they then have an opportunity to apply for jobs at Sutter health and other healthcare organizations in the area.
Students participating in the NextGen program also receive $1,000 a term for up to three terms annually. The funding is to aid students in focusing on their studies and career development through cutting back on the need to work outside of the program. Students in the program will also have access to academic support services, with practical training opportunities, mentorship and networking opportunities also offered to the program students through Sutter Health and other partnering healthcare institutions, the release said.
Upgrades to Folsom Lake College's education hub in Rancho Cordova will also be supported by investments from Sutter Health to create an improved learning environment for students, including new equipment like hospital beds, simulators and X-ray machines for hand-on learning opportunities.
To kick off the program, Sutter Health and the Los Rios Community College District will begin developing curriculum for students. Recruitment, hiring and training program faculty, support staff and career case managers is also a focus.
The first round of students in the program are expected to start this fall.