Healthcare systems across the United States are confronting a growing and complex workforce crisis. Persistent shortages of nurses, allied health professionals, behavioral health specialists, and community-based providers are straining hospitals and health systems at a time when demand for care continues to rise.
While much of the national conversation has focused on recruitment and retention at the post-secondary level, one organization is addressing the challenge much earlier, by preparing high school students for careers in healthcare before they ever step onto a college campus.
NAF, a national network of education, business, and community leaders, is working to ensure students are college, career, and future ready by bringing schools and employers together in meaningful ways. Since its founding in 1980, NAF has grown from a single Academy of Finance in New York City into a nationwide network of 634 academies focused on high-growth industries, including healthcare. Through its Academies of Health Sciences, NAF is helping to build a more diverse, skilled, and resilient healthcare workforce, starting in high school.
A National Footprint With Measurable Outcomes
NAF’s health sciences pathway has expanded rapidly in response to workforce demand. According to Dr. Christine Rodriguez, Director of Curriculum at NAF, the scale of the program is already significant.
“During the last school year, 2024–2025, there were nearly 18,000 students enrolled in nearly 100 Academies of Health Sciences in 20 states and more than 50 districts,” Rodriguez says. “Ninety-nine percent of seniors graduated, and 93% are college-bound.”
Those outcomes stand out in an era when healthcare employers are increasingly concerned about pipeline attrition. By engaging students early, and keeping them engaged, NAF helps ensure that more young people enter post-secondary education with a clear sense of purpose and direction.
Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages at the Source
Healthcare workforce shortages are not limited to a single role or specialty. Hospitals and health systems are experiencing gaps across nursing, allied health, behavioral health, and support roles. NAF’s approach focuses on preparing students broadly while also exposing them to the realities of healthcare careers.
“NAF Academies of Health Sciences are small learning communities within high schools or districts that support students in igniting their aspirations, growing professional and industry skills, and connecting with experts through career-focused curricula and work-based learning,” Rodriguez explains. “Our career pathways support growing industries and the needs of the local community.”
This structure allows academies to align their programs with local workforce needs, whether that means focusing on hospital-based roles, community health, oral health, or emerging care models. Students gain both academic knowledge and real-world context, helping them understand not just what healthcare jobs exist, but what it takes to succeed in them.
“NAF Academies of Health Sciences help to shape the next generation of health professionals,” Rodriguez adds. “With career learning and hands-on experiences, students expand their knowledge and skill sets, so that they can thrive in the workforce.”
Credentials, Competencies, and Career Readiness
As national media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, highlight programs where high school students graduate with patient-care certifications, employers are increasingly paying attention to early credentialing and skills development. NAF’s health sciences curriculum is designed to meet that demand.
“Since its launch in 2013, NAF has provided a rigorous and comprehensive program of study designed to prepare learners with the content knowledge and transferable competencies necessary for success in college and career,” Rodriguez says. “Our curricula include: Anatomy, Physiology, Biotechnology, Global Health, and Health Careers Exploration.”
Beyond technical coursework, NAF places heavy emphasis on employability skills, often cited by healthcare employers as just as critical as clinical knowledge.
“Our students also build durable, or employability, skills, such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving,” Rodriguez notes. These skills are developed through hands-on learning experiences, including “clinical experiences in hospitals, health care simulation days, mentorship, and more,” allowing students to connect directly with industry professionals and make informed career decisions.
Supporting First-Generation Healthcare Students
For many students in NAF academies, healthcare careers represent uncharted territory. Many are the first in their families to consider working in the field, making confidence-building and mentorship essential components of the program.
“At the heart of NAF’s approach is the belief that if you can see it, you can be it,” Rodriguez says. “Through exposure to career options and opportunities to build upon one’s aspirations, develop necessary skills, and create critical workplace connections, NAF believes we can transform the high school experience.”
NAF’s outcomes-driven work-based learning model is built around three core student-centered outcomes: aspirations, skills, and social capital.
“Aspirations—having a sense of their professional direction—helps students make more informed decisions about their next steps after high school,” Rodriguez explains. “Employees are looking for key transferable skills, and students build on these skills through hands-on learning and have professionals provide feedback to validate their progress and future readiness.”
Social capital, she adds, may be the most transformative element. “We aim to help students develop meaningful connections with professionals who can help them navigate their paths forward. This approach expands the possibilities for NAF students, opening a world of choices available to them.”
Employer Partnerships That Drive Relevance
Healthcare education cannot succeed in isolation. NAF’s model depends heavily on partnerships with hospitals, clinics, health systems, and community organizations to ensure students are learning the competencies the industry urgently needs.
“For decades, NAF has cultivated partnerships with national and local companies to positively impact our students and alumni, their communities, and local economies,” Rodriguez says.
Employer engagement takes many forms, including volunteering in classrooms, hosting job shadows or worksite tours, participating in mock interviews, mentoring student projects, and hosting interns. Employers can also serve on local advisory boards, helping educators align curriculum with workforce realities. (To learn more, visit: https://naf.org/partner-with-us/become-a-partner/.)
“Over the course of our 45-year history, NAF’s mission has remained the same: to provide access to opportunities for high school students and their communities,” Rodriguez adds. “The NAF design combines career-themed programs of study with hands-on, outcomes-driven work-based learning experiences to create intentional learning environments.”
Preparing Students for the Future of Healthcare
As healthcare delivery shifts beyond hospital walls, NAF is adapting its curriculum to reflect new care models and emerging workforce needs. Behavioral health, telehealth, oral health integration, and community-based care are all shaping the future of the industry.
“NAF is preparing students for healthcare that increasingly happens outside hospital walls, in community settings, on virtual platforms, and through integrated care models,” Rodriguez says.
Curriculum development is informed by ongoing dialogue with healthcare professionals, educators, and professional associations. Recent initiatives include AI integration, oral health and overall wellness, behavioral and social determinants of health, and work-based learning across the continuum of care.
Employer Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Healthcare employers who hire NAF students or host interns consistently emphasize the importance of both technical knowledge and professional skills. That feedback directly informs program improvements.
“Employers consistently express that they value students with both technical foundations and professional skills,” Rodriguez says. “That feedback shapes everything from curriculum design to the work-based learning resources NAF creates.”
One example is the Exploring Oral Health unit, developed alongside dental industry experts, educators, post-secondary institutions, and NAF alumni. Employer partners also help identify industry-recognized certifications and stackable credentials that allow students to graduate with tangible, resume-ready skills.
Scaling Impact Nationwide
Looking ahead, NAF’s vision is ambitious but clear.
“NAF’s vision is to ensure EVERY student, regardless of geography or background, has access to high-quality healthcare career pathways,” Rodriguez says.
State-level partnerships are already demonstrating what’s possible. Through legislative support, NAF and the Michigan Department of Education have launched 20 academies, integrating NAF curriculum into existing health science coursework and building strong employer partnerships.
“Investment and commitment from state leaders is key to creating more programs and engaging businesses alongside educators,” Rodriguez concludes.
As healthcare systems search for long-term solutions to workforce shortages, NAF’s model offers a compelling blueprint, one that starts early, centers equity, and aligns education with the realities of modern healthcare delivery.
For more information, please visit naf.org.
Daniel Casciato is a seasoned healthcare writer, publisher, and product reviewer with two decades of experience. He founded Healthcare Business Today to deliver timely insights on healthcare trends, technology, and innovation. His bylines have appeared in outlets such as Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials, MedEsthetics Magazine, EMS World, Pittsburgh Business Times, Post-Gazette, Providence Journal, Western PA Healthcare News, and he has written for clients like the American Heart Association, Google Earth, and Southwest Airlines. Through Healthcare Business Today, Daniel continues to inform and inspire professionals across the healthcare landscape.
