Ballad Health Academy welcomes second class of students amid new program offerings and expansions

37604, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Ballad Health welcomed a record second class of 207 students to its Ballad Health Academy program with a series of events hosted at area high schools during National Nurses Week. "Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a growing focus for both students and education leaders as a high school degree no longer guarantees a well-paying job," said Science Hill High School Principal Dr. Carmen Bryant. "Partnering with Ballad Health allows schools to provide opportunities to their students that will support them far beyond graduation." While students are completing the program in high school, they will have the opportunity to become qualified as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Those seniors who opt to take additional courses through educational partners, Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton and Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown, will graduate as Licensed Professional Nurses (LPNs). Graduates of the program are guaranteed interviews for roles at Ballad Health upon completion, helping launch careers that offer family-sustaining wages immediately after high school graduation. New in 2026 In addition to a comprehensive educational curriculum and hands-on experience through clinical rotations, the Ballad Health Academy provides one-on-one mentorship support to ensure student success. Students are not only matched with a Nurse Mentor during clinical rotations but also meet weekly with a Pathway Advisor. "With training and career counseling provided through the Ballad Health Academy, we are creating opportunities for students to give back to their communities," said Ballad Health Chief Academic Officer Dr. Matthew Loos. "I truly believe the seeds we are planting today are going to be transformational for our communities and for our region." Ballad Health Academy is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' more than $250 million effort to create high schools in 13 communities around the nation that will directly graduate students into high-demand healthcare jobs with family-sustaining wages. Ballad Health Academy is unique among these programs by allowing students to remain enrolled at their high school, using a school-within-a-school approach, to adapt to its rural environment. "Ballad Health is showing what's possible when healthcare and education systems come together to invest in local talent," said Jenny Kane, who leads career and technical education programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies. "This program is a national model for rural innovation, bridging the gap between high school and high-impact healthcare careers to strengthen the region's future." For more information about the Ballad Health Academy, please visit balladhealthacademy.org. ### About Ballad Health Attachments Ballad_Health_Academy_signing Ballad_Health_Academy_Science_Hill_High_School_class Ballad Health Marketing and Communications Ballad Health 423-427-1356 [email protected] Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.