Southeast Health and Houston County Schools celebrated the launch Tuesday of the Southeast Health Academy of Health Science with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The new program, which will be through the Houston County Career Academy in Dothan, is a significant investment in future workforce development and healthcare in the Wiregrass.

The partnership provides students interested in healthcare careers with access to real-world learning experiences while strengthening the pipeline of future healthcare professionals. Southeast Health will provide annual financial support and ongoing programs while partnering with Houston County Schools to expand health science opportunities for students. The partnership also includes branding and program naming rights for the Southeast Health Academy of Health Science

Students will have opportunities for job shadowing, internships, mentoring, healthcare facility tours, guest lectures, volunteer experiences and qualified employment opportunities. These experiences will connect classroom learning with healthcare opportunities, allowing students to explore career paths at an earlier age.

“This partnership is about investing in our future,” said Layton Anderson, chief human resources officer for Southeast Health. “Healthcare organizations nationwide face workforce challenges, and one of the best ways to address those challenges is by inspiring students early and helping them understand the meaningful careers available in healthcare. Through the Southeast Health Academy of Health Science, students will gain valuable exposure to healthcare professions while developing skills that can benefit them and our community for years to come.”

The goals of the partnership include exposing students to healthcare careers earlier, increasing interest in healthcare professions through firsthand experiences and aligning educational opportunities with the future workforce needs of the healthcare industry.

“The Southeast Health Academy of Health Science creates exciting opportunities for our students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences,” said Brandy White, superintendent of Houston County Schools. “By partnering with Southeast Health, we can expose students to a wide range of healthcare careers, provide firsthand learning opportunities, and help prepare them for success in some of the most important professions in our region.”

Houston County Schools and Southeast Health leaders were joined by faculty, students, and community partners during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Houston County Career Academy, which featured remarks from organizational leaders and provided attendees with an opportunity to learn more about the program and its impact on the future workforce.