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Education is a key component of economic development particularly when talking about technical education. Some of the best career opportunities are in the medical field. Beaufort County is fortunate to have ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Medical Center. ECU Health is a 1,708-bed regional health system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 Eastern North Carolina counties.

Victoria Bell Hamill is Director of Career Technical Education (CTE), Workforce Development and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) at Beaufort County Schools (BCS). Beaufort County Schools have many CTE (Career Technical Education) programs including nursing assistant, boat building, agriculture and welding.

Vicki Hamill worked with Lisa Lassiter of ECU health and obtained funding for a BCS Health Sciences Academy. Funding pays for a Health Sciences Academy Coordinator and materials. Vicki has written a job description and is in the process of recruiting the Health Sciences Coordinator.

The mission of the Health Sciences Academy is to prepare students to enter the health care workforce and/or post-secondary health care education. The Health Sciences Academy is a partnership between ECU Health, providers and Beaufort County Schools.

Students are recruited for the Health Sciences Academy in the 8^th through 10^th grade. Admission requirements are A and B average (3.0 for high school applicants), clean discipline record and desire to volunteer within their community.

It is a four-year course of study where students are exposed to opportunities for educational development through experiences, workshops and speakers. Students participate in tours and job shadowing at ECU Health facilities and perform 25 hours of volunteer community service each year. Instruction is provided by the teachers employed by Beaufort County Schools in the Health Sciences CTE classes as well as BCCC instructors through the Career and College Promise courses (CCP) offered to Juniors and seniors. Students will be required to take upper-level math and science courses according to the Health Sciences Academy guidelines.

The Health Sciences Coordinator will oversee the recruitment and retention of students to the program, as well as coordinating events and experiences for the students in the Academy. This will require a close partnership with providers from BCCC and ECU Health as well as School Counselors at the three High Schools and Early College High School as well as the five middle schools. To be considered for the academy, students must submit an application.

The need for workers in the healthcare business has been growing for years and there are shortages in several healthcare professions and occupations that serve the healthcare business. Nurses and doctors are needed but there are also occupations within the healthcare business which don’t expose an individual to blood. There are almost an endless number of opportunities within healthcare.

Other benefits for a Health Sciences Academy include special recognition and separate awards ceremonies for accomplishments, consideration for scholarships, letters of recommendation from the Academy Coordinator, and programs with academy partners which strengthen relationships for the future.

ECU Health has more than 14,000 team members. That’s more workers than the population of a small city. That’s a lot of opportunity for students who want healthcare as a career.

The Health Sciences Academy is a game changer for BCS students. I believe the academy will be extremely successful.

Al Klemm is a Washington resident and a former Beaufort County Commissioner.