About Our Program
The Richardson ISD Healthcare Careers Academy educates future healthcare professionals to significantly impact the health and well-being of all individuals through professional practice, healthcare leadership, and global service.
If you are interested in the healthcare profession, you can begin your journey to a fulfilling career with the Richardson ISD Health Science Academy. As a Health Science student, you have the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in a hospital setting from real life healthcare professionals. Freshman and sophomore students take core courses and prerequisites at their home campuses. Junior and senior students take core courses at their home campuses while taking practicum level classes at Methodist Richardson Medical Center.
Follow us on Twitter @RISD_Healthcare
Benefits of Our Program
Students in the Healthcare Careers Academy will benefit from a highly rigorous academic experience. They will gain a wealth of knowledge and experiences that
prepare them for success. Healthcare scholars will have access to professionals in their field through networking, which will allow students to build relationships with mentors and locate internships that will prepare them for employment in the fast-growing industry of healthcare.
- Earn college credit for Health Science courses while earning a high school diploma at no cost to students
- Participate in clinical rotations through Methodist Richardson Medical Center
- Transition directly into the workforce or into a two-year college or four-year university
How to Enroll
If you are currently a Richardson ISD 8th-grade student and you are interested in joining the Healthcare Careers Academy, your student should select Dual Credit Principles of Health Science as an elective course when selecting courses for 9th grade. Students should also select the Dual Credit Health Science Program of Study when completing 4-year plans in Naviance. Please also complete the Interest Form linked in the button below.
HOSA - Future Health Professionals
The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience. The purpose of HOSA-Future Health Professionals is to develop leadership and technical HOSA skill competencies through a program of motivation, awareness and recognition, which is an integral part of the Health Science Education instructional program.
- HOSA clubs are available to every Richardson ISD student
- It is not necessary to be enrolled in a Health Science class in order to be a HOSA member although it is recommended
Student Job Board
As students complete certifications in our Healthcare Academy, they can apply for jobs in the medical field. Here is a list of job opportunities for students with completed certifications:
Contact Information
RHCA Campus Administrators:
Savannah Hollis
Savannah.hollis@risd.org
CTE/PTECH Counselor:
Jennifer Sweaks
Jennifer.sweaks@risd.org
Questions? Use the form below to reach out and someone will get in touch with you.
The Richardson Healthcare Careers Academy is a P-TECH program. Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) are innovative open-enrollment high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and a credential and/or an associate degree. The hallmark of the P-TECH model is its career focus and the provision of work-based education.
The P-TECH Blueprint provides foundational principles and standards for innovative partnerships with colleges, universities, and industry. The P-TECH Blueprint contains six benchmarks outlining the design elements that each P-TECH campus must implement before serving students. Additionally, outcome-based measures in Access, Attainment, and Achievement provide guidance for P-TECH program implementation and continuous improvement efforts.