New Albany, Ind.-based Baptist Health Floyd has more than doubled enrollment in its apprenticeship program in its second year and expanded the number of career pathways offered to high school students.
The program, launched in 2024, prepares students to be workforce-ready within one year of graduation. This year, 50 applicants sought placement in the program and 23 were accepted.
Apprentices begin as high school juniors, rotating through several hospital departments during their first year while working eight hours per week. In the second year, they select a specific track and increase their hours to 20 per week.
The hospital now offers seven career pathways through the program: licensed practical nurse, diagnostic imaging, surgical tech, respiratory therapy, medical lab tech, physical therapy assistant and general hospital maintenance/engineering.
The hospital also works with local colleges and educational programs to help students transition seamlessly from the apprenticeship into higher education, allowing them to complete any remaining requirements for their chosen field.
Baptist Health Floyd President Mike Schroyer said the program is modeled after one used in Switzerland, which has helped address the country’s workforce shortage.
“In Switzerland, 70% of high school students are in the apprenticeship program, and 15% to 25% of employees in most businesses are apprentices. I was able to see this firsthand and was greatly impressed with the program. The participants were so proud of what they were learning and the skills they obtained firsthand with real-life experiences in the field of their choice,” he said in a Dec. 11 news release shared with Becker’s.
Baptist Health Floyd is part of Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health.
