Dr. Brenda Krage looks for the best and brightest students. She has a great opportunity for them - join the Health Academy and work toward a health care career.

Pueblo City Schools (Formerly Pueblo School District 60) Health Academy is in its 12th year working to immerse high school students in the subjects they need to go on in health care professions. The long-term hope is that these students will stay in, or return to, Pueblo to use their training and expertise and fill a shortage of health care workers in the city.

"We're giving kids avenues to explore health care as a career, along with a strong academic foundation," says Krage, Director of Career and Technical Education, Health Academy for Pueblo City Schools. "This is both a school to career program and a college preparatory program. They leave the Academy prepared to go on in school and they're employable."

The Health Academy began as a partnership with the Pueblo health community, the school district, Pueblo Community College and the University of Southern Colorado. In addition to a high school diploma, last year's 27 Health Academy graduates also had completed an additional 18-28 college credits. Those graduates earned over $200,000 in scholarships to pursue post secondary education, and some of the graduates received early acceptance into nursing and pre-medicine programs because of the Health Academy.

At graduation, many students are certified in such fields as certified nursing assistant, EMT or pharmacy technician. Employers are happy to have trained people to fill in the city's health care provider gaps.

"Employers know the caliber of kids they're welcoming into their work environment," Krage says.

Caring for Colorado and Pueblo Community College also teamed up to give college students the skills they needed to move into health care careers. The Healthy Careers Success Program is designed to help recruit and retain students through mentoring, study skills training and other extra support efforts.

The goal is for students to pursue careers in health care. The college offers training in a number of allied health professions. Students who graduate from these programs can go on to help alleviate a provider shortage in Pueblo and other areas in southern Colorado.