There’s a new high school coming for Miami-Dade students interested in healthcare
In an effort to address South Florida’s growing shortage of healthcare workers, Miami Dade College and Jackson Health System signed a binding agreement Monday to launch a new high school aimed at preparing students for careers in medicine and healthcare.
Set to open in August 2027 in Miami’s Health District, the Health Science Collegiate Academy will create a direct pathway for students interested in nursing, healthcare administration, allied health and other high-demand medical fields.
David Zambrana, president and chief operating officer of the Jackson Health System, said the partnership is designed to help students who are “bitten by the healthcare bug” begin pursuing careers in the industry at an early age.
“I cannot think of a better way of ensuring a pipeline for healthcare into perpetuity in the future,” Zambrana said. “I wish an opportunity like this existed when I was starting high school.”
The idea for the program grew out of a 2021 roundtable discussion at MDC’s medical campus focused on addressing the nursing shortage. Since then, MDC has expanded its nursing program through its offerings, while also looking for ways to introduce students to healthcare careers earlier.
“We know that talent is universal, opportunity is not,” said Madeline Pumariega, president of MDC. “This program is about creating opportunities for our students — and not only for our students, but most importantly, for our community.”
The school will begin with a freshman class of about 75 students, with plans to grow the program to approximately 200 students per graduating class in the future.
Students will be able to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree. Pumariega said students with their associate’s degree, and certificates they can earn in school, can immediately enter the healthcare workforce.
The high school will be housed on MDC’s medical campus near Jackson until 2029, when a workforce housing development under construction at Northwest 12th Avenue and 15th Street is expected to open, with part of the building designated for the school.
Carlos Migoya, CEO of Jackson Health System, said the academy could “create a living classroom unlike any other.”
“They will be able to connect learning to real-world purposes and imagine themselves walking our halls as the next generation of caregivers, scientists, technology experts and leaders,” he said.
Applications are not yet available online, but interested applicants can sign up online to receive updates on important announcements.