RISD’s healthcare education continues to prepare students for careers in some of the fastest growing occupations. Demand for nurses, physicians assistants, physical therapists, patient-care technicians, and occupational therapy assistants remains high and is expected to keep growing.
The school district’s partnership with Methodist Richardson Medical Center is providing students with opportunities to step right into high-salaried jobs immediately upon high school graduation. RISD’s P-TECH healthcare program is the largest in the state. In March, Educate Texas and the Texas Education Agency will be in RISD to produce a video about the Richardson Healthcare Careers Academy because it has been designated as a model CCMR campus. RISD’s CTE program is the exemplar in Texas.
For example, RISD has 55 students in an EMT curriculum this year that rewards them with an opportunity to take the national registry exam to become nationally certified upon successful completion of the course. These students are doing 12-hour ambulance ride outs. They may be asked to work as the EMT at a scene, possibly helping perform CPR while diagnosing patient issues in real-world emergencies. Doesn’t get much more hands-on then responding to a 911 call.
Another healthcare CTE choice available to RISD students is the opportunity to graduate high school with an associate’s degree in medical assisting. They can earn up to 65 transferable college credits through this dual credit pathway. Every RHCA student starts with Principles of Health Science as freshman and some of their paths have them making clinical rotations junior and senior year. A recent partnership with UT Southwestern allows some 10th grade students to work with mentor med students and surgical residents.
RISD CTE programs enable students to connect to their future while still in high school. They graduate equipped with industry-relevant knowledge and skills that puts them steps ahead of peers. They are ready to transition directly into the workforce or a two-year college or four-year university. #RISDBelieves
