The Current
Inspire. Collaborate. Elevate.
The Current is a resource for students, healthcare and educational institutions in Tennessee.
Our mission is to inspire collaborative ideas to strengthen our current and future workforce. Pathways. Our most long-range and ambitious mission is to increase the health workforce pipeline in Tennessee through education and experiences. We are dedicated to inspiring students and supporting education as the solution to workforce shortages.
We are driven to create pathways to a future in healthcare. We offer students the knowledge and connections needed to make informed decisions and provide financial awards to support their start in college. Our particular focus is on reaching students from rural and disadvantaged areas of Tennessee.
Sullivan County Schools with Ballad Health and TCAT Elizabethton
When the Sullivan County education team began planning their new Innovative School Model project in January 2023, their goal was to create a program that students were interested in and passionate about, leading to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand healthcare careers. After surveying students and looking at healthcare industry needs, Sullivan East High School developed a nursing program. On November 15, 2024, the school had a ribbon-cutting ceremony and luncheon to celebrate the grand opening of their new nursing center.
This incredible academic advancement would not have been possible without funding from the Innovative School Model Grant, partnerships with Ballad Health and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Elizabethton, leadership and guidance from the county’s director of schools, CTE and secondary supervisor, school principals, CTE teachers, and key community stakeholders.
Thanks to partnerships formed with Ballad Health and TCAT Elizabethton, both Sullivan East and West Ridge high schools will launch a new licensed practical nursing (LPN) program in August 2025 that will allow students to obtain their LPN licenses before graduation. This exciting collaboration offers a sustainable career that will open new doors for students and create pathways to even greater opportunities and success for future graduates in Sullivan County. This new LPN program expands the healthcare pathways programs already offered by Sullivan East and West Ridge High School, including certified nursing assistant, PTTA, and CCMA certification programs.
Ballad Health and the staff at Sullivan East and West Ridge are currently providing education on this new program in the middle and high schools, as well as recruiting for the inaugural class of LPN students, who are expected to graduate in 2028. We are excited to see what this innovative program will continue to do for Sullivan County students!
Baptist Union City Collaborates with JSCC and DSCC to Reduce Critical Workforce Shortages
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City has been working towards its goal of safe staffing for emergency medicine services professionals and respiratory therapists and improving patient care in Obion County and its surrounding communities. The program, which is funded by the Rural Public Health Workforce Training Program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), provides financial support to students to attend Dyersburg State Community College’s Emergency Medicine program (basic EMT, advanced EMT, paramedic training) and Jackson State Community College’s Respiratory Therapy program. The program covers students’ tuition, uniforms, books, licensure fees, and an annual stipend.
Students get hands-on experience in EMS and respiratory care career tracks by learning to use ambulance simulators and intubation mannequins. Additionally, Baptist Memorial Hospital has created internships that provide opportunities for students to experience an actual day in the life of a healthcare professional.
Both programs have achieved the highest enrollment numbers in their history. Students who previously did not know about EMS and respiratory care professions are now working towards a career in these in-demand professions.
Through this hospital and education collaboration, we have helped over 50 emergency medicine students complete the program and several of them now work in northwest Tennessee. The first graduating class of respiratory therapy students will graduate in May 2025.
Northwest Tennessee’s healthcare workforce has reduced vacant positions and improved staffing at Baptist Memorial Hospital and rural ambulance services in Obion County and surrounding counties.
“This is my WHY”
Andrea Austria Escudero
School: Murray State University
Program: Biology/Pre-Med
"Ever since I was young, hospitals and doctor visits were a regular part of my life—not for myself, but for my younger brother, who was born with Crouzon syndrome. I remember sitting quietly in the corner of exam rooms, watching doctors explain procedures to my mother while she tried to stay strong. I often had to translate medical terms into Spanish for her and explain things in simpler terms. It was in those moments that I realized how deeply healthcare professionals’ impact not just the patient, but the entire family. As I grew older, those experiences became my motivation. I wanted to be the kind of person who could help children like my brother feel safe and heard, and support families like mine during difficult times. My bilingual background, my ability to empathize, and my desire to care for others all pointed me toward becoming a pediatrician."
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Events
Health Science Achievement Award Application
The application window will open January 2027
HOSA State Leadership Conference | Chattanooga, TN
March 7, 2027 – March 10, 2027
SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference | Chattanooga, TN
April 11, 2027 – April 14, 2027
Regional Events
Rural High School Simulation Day
November 12, 2026 | University of Memphis
Middle Tennessee Discovery Summit
April 10, 2027 | Columbia State Community College
West Tennessee Discovery Summit
May 1, 2027 | University of Memphis
East Tennessee Discovery Summit
TBA | Knox Health Education & SIM Center
Northeast Tennessee Discovery Summit
TBA | East Tennessee State University
Resources
The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel. We provide educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.
Contact Us
Sarah Kane
Community Engagement Manager
We want to learn about workforce innovations happening in your area!
