Ballad Health Academy launches mobile simulation lab to deliver hands-on healthcare training to regional high school students

Ballad Health has introduced a new simulation lab mobile unit to bring high-tech, hands-on healthcare training directly to students at seven regional high schools participating in the newly created Ballad Health Academy.

Ballad Health Academy is a medical training program for high school students launching in Fall 2025. Through a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, students will receive dual-enrollment coursework, job-shadowing experiences and real-world exposure to healthcare careers.

“Access to hands-on healthcare education shouldn’t be limited by geography,” said Todd Barnett, program manager for curriculum-based programs at Ballad Health. “The mobile simulation lab allows us to bring advanced training directly to students and helps ensure that our future healthcare workforce is as diverse, skilled and community-focused as the region it serves.”

The mobile lab will be based at Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport and strengthens Ballad Health’s commitment to education and making a positive impact in the community.

Ballad Health Academy is part of a historic $250 million national initiative from Bloomberg Philanthropies aimed at creating new healthcare-focused career and technical education (CTE) high schools in 10 rural and urban communities across the country. Ballad Health Academy uses a “school-within-a-school” model, allowing students to stay at their local high schools while gaining access to in-person, virtual and in-hospital learning experiences. The 213 students in its inaugural class are enrolled at seven local schools: Science Hill High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Sullivan East High School, Tennessee High School, West Ridge High School, Greeneville High School and Elizabethton High School.

Students will graduate prepared to enter the workforce immediately in family-sustaining healthcare careers or continue their education in the healthcare field with a head start on credentials. Ballad Health Academy is poised to help address the nationwide shortage of healthcare workers, which has reached a critical level with a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of workers across different categories by 2030 and beyond.

Rather than building expensive simulation labs at each participating school, the mobile unit provides a cost-effective solution by bringing the lab to the student. The custom-designed bus is equipped with advanced simulation equipment and will travel to each school, providing consistent, hands-on training. The unit includes two exam tables, blood pressure cuffs and exam equipment, and interactive monitors to simulate real clinical experiences. Designed to serve up to 15 students at a time, the lab offers an immersive learning environment where students can develop vital skills during their training.

“We’re excited that our health science nursing programs at Sullivan East and West Ridge High Schools will benefit from the new Ballad Health Academy simulation lab mobile unit,” said Debbie Madgett, director of career and technical education for Sullivan County Schools. “This innovative mobile lab brings high-quality, hands-on healthcare training directly to our students. By providing access to advanced simulation technology on our campuses, students will gain real-life clinical experience in a safe and supportive environment. This will better prepare them for postsecondary education and future careers in healthcare. This effort not only gives students valuable skills but also builds interest in healthcare careers. We’re proud to partner with Ballad Health Academy in this forward-thinking initiative that supports our students and our community.”

“The mobile lab opens doors to new opportunities for students, providing access to training tools that may not be available in their school districts,” said Dr. Jeff Moorhouse, corporate director of secondary programs for Ballad Health. “By exposing students to career paths that exist within the region, but not necessarily in their hometowns, the lab gives them a competitive edge for the future.” For more information about Ballad Health Academy, please visit www.balladhealthacademy.org.

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