The Regional Allied Health and Science Initiative is a collaborative effort among numerous entities in San Diego County to help improve high school students’ ultimate success in healthcare. The problems this project seeks to improve are (1) lack of healthcare career awareness, (2) poor performance in college science courses, and (3) attrition rates in training programs.

The success of the project requires the input and expertise of all levels of education in conjunction with industry. The core of the project is the focus on redesigning high school science curricula to incorporate human systems and healthcare applications, career exploration activities, state biology and healthcare standards, and industry skills.

Integrated with the efforts to redesign coursework is the focus on career exploration activities that provide students with high-level exposure to various healthcare careers. Technical assistance is provided to interested schools in implementing summer camps, mentorship programs, job shadows, and internships.

All partner high schools have existing, though varied, health career pathways as well as college and industry partnerships. RAHSI expands and strengthens these efforts by creating new Career Technical Education models to meet the needs of all participants and ultimately improve the quality of students entering healthcare training programs and careers.