For the second year, Saint Thomas Health is partnering with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to introduce high school seniors to healthcare professions through the Saint Thomas Health Scholars Program. This school year, 118 high school seniors from across the nine MNPS healthcare academies will participate in the program. Participants, who were selected through a peer interview process, were commissioned in a ceremony at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital's Gladys Stringfield Auditorium on Aug. 10.

Throughout the school year, Saint Thomas Health Scholars receive weekly, hands-on mentoring from a Saint Thomas professional and sit for a certification exam to receive the Clinical Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) designation at the end of the school year. Certified graduates have the opportunity to be hired immediately and receive future scholarship opportunities.