Corpus Christi Independent School District and Baylor College of Medicine have joined forces to address a growing shortage of healthcare professionals across Texas — and they’re starting the conversation in middle school.
Representatives from Baylor’s Houston campus met with CCISD officials Monday to discuss the district’s efforts to introduce students to medical careers early, with programs that begin in middle school and continue through high school. Moody High School is among the campuses already participating.
Nancy Moreno, with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the visit was part of a broader effort to understand and support what Corpus Christi ISD and Midland ISD have already built.
“Both school districts have been working with tremendous energy to support the development of these pathways,” Moreno said. “We’re here today specifically to meet with Corpus Christi leaders and understand more about the programs that you have developed and implemented here with community support to bring young people into health careers.”
The partnership comes as Texas faces a significant shortage of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Moreno said part of the challenge is that many students simply don’t know what opportunities exist in the field.
“These are high-paying careers that span the range,” she said. “Someone can be in the health care business with a business major, or someone can pursue law and work in science and medicine — in addition to the wide range of professions available in health professions.”
The program is designed to reach students before they lose interest in science altogether. Research has shown that many children disengage from science as early as fifth grade, making early intervention critical.
“It’s important to start in elementary school, which is what is happening here in Corpus Christi,” one program representative said. “Bring them on into middle school and then high school. Let them interact with professionals in the field and have experiences that let them try on the identity of being a person in science or medicine.”
CCISD officials did not provide additional comment Monday, but the district’s participation signals a continued investment in career and technical education pathways for students across the Coastal Bend.