Training todays Oakland high schoolers to be tomorrows EMTs, nursing assistants, and ER workers

Oakland Unified School District's Highway to Work program trains recent high school graduates for technical healthcare roles, offering internships in emergency medical positions. Students can earn up to $3,000 over the summer while gaining certification as emergency medical technicians or certified nursing assistants. Victor Chan, who now manages two internship programs, reflects on the program’s impact on first-generation college students like himself. Graduates such as Maricarmen Diaz Montoya have gained hands-on experience and are pursuing nursing degrees at four-year universities. The program, established during the pandemic, aims to fill the gaps in the healthcare workforce and is funded by the Walter & Elise Haas Fund and a grant from the California Employment Development Department.

By the end of the summer, students are prepared to take licensing tests, providing them a pathway into healthcare careers. Dr. Emily Frank notes the importance of training local youth for high-demand positions in the healthcare sector. The program is currently a summer internship, with hopes of expanding its offerings in the future.