Mayor Highlights Expansion of ATCs to Prepare Students for High-Demand Careers

/in /by

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education highlighted surging demand for the District’s Advanced Technical Centers (ATCs), highlighting growing student interest in this high-quality Career and Technical Education program. For the 2026-27 school year, nearly 1,000 students applied to attend one of the two ATC campuses and pursue training in the high-wage, in-demand fields of health care and cybersecurity. Data gathered since the opening of the first ATC shows that the center has consistently delivered successful outcomes, with hundreds of students graduating at rates higher than their peers, earning industry-recognized credentials and thousands of college credits, and saving their families millions of dollars in tuition.

Advanced Technical Centers are a critical engine for building the next generation of health care professionals. Through partnerships with hospitals and federally qualified health centers, these programs expand access and create early pathways into clinical careers, giving students meaningful, direct exposure to the field.

— Jacqueline D. Bowens, President & CEO, DC Hospital Association

DC HEAL to Strengthen the Health Care Workforce and Create Pathways to Opportunity

/in /by

The District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA) launched a new health care apprenticeship program, DC HEAL—District of Columbia Health Employment and Apprenticeship Link—to connect DC high school graduates with hands-on, health care career opportunities, addressing both workforce shortages and the need for equitable access to quality jobs across the city.

DC HEAL represents a shared commitment between educators, health care institutions, and community partners to invest in the next generation of health professionals while addressing the pressing needs of DC’s health workforce and residents.

Funded in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, along with local investments, DC HEAL builds on the success of the Advanced Technical Center — the District’s first college-level career and technical education program for high school students.

Through DC HEAL, recent graduates will be paired with hospitals, community health centers, and clinics across the District. Participants will gain real-world experience, mentorship from practicing professionals, and earn a living wage while continuing their education and training in critical health care fields.

DC HEAL, led by DCHA and CityWorksDC, is partnering with Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, Children’s National Hospital, Forest Hills DC, Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home, and Whitman-Walker to place 20 apprentices in its first year.

DC HEAL represents a true citywide collaboration between skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, clinics, education partners, and community organizations. Together, we are creating apprenticeship pathways into high-demand roles such as certified medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, team leads, and patient care technicians. DC HEAL is not a one-time initiative—it is a long-term investment in DC’s future workforce. It is designed to meet hospitals’ urgent staffing needs, provide DC residents with pathways to upward mobility, and advance equity in our health care system. We are proud to partner with businesses, education providers, and community leaders to build a workforce system that works for everyone.

— Jacqueline D. Bowens, President & CEO, DC Hospital Association

The program’s apprenticeship model ensures that participants not only learn in the classroom but also contribute meaningfully to the field, gaining the confidence and skills needed for long-term, in-demand careers in health.

Learn More About DC HEAL

Mayor and Bloomberg Philanthropies Celebrate New Ward 8 ATC and Health Care Apprenticeship Program

/in /by

Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by Bloomberg Philanthropies and education and health care partners to celebrate the new Ward 8 Advanced Technical Center (ATC) and launch the new District-wide DC Health Care Employment & Apprenticeship Link (DC HEAL) program, which helps Career Technical Education (CTE) and other high school graduates gain hands-on apprenticeships in high-growth health care careers. Both the new ATC and the DC HEAL program are supported by a $9.5 million contribution from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The Ward 8 ATC, located at the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center, opened this school year, expanding the District’s Career and Technical Education by offering more high school students from across the city the chance to earn industry credentials and college credits, complete paid internships, and gain clinical experience in fields like nursing, medical assisting, and emergency medical first response. Like the District’s first ATC in Ward 5, the Ward 8 ATC is administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and is open to all DC Public Schools and public charter high school students. ATC students take dual-credit college courses from higher education partners Trinity Washington University and the University of the District of Columbia and engage in paid internships with employer partners in the high-demand fields of health care and cybersecurity.

The new DC HEAL apprenticeship offers CTE high school graduates interested in health care careers direct-to-work opportunities, creating pathways into high-demand roles such as certified nursing assistant and patient care technician. DC HEAL launched in August with five health care employers, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community health centers across the District. Through DC HEAL, recent graduates are hired for one-year, full-time apprenticeships, gaining hands-on learning, mentorship from practicing professionals, and a living wage.

The new Ward 8 ATC expands opportunities for students in health care occupations, including certified medical assistant and emergency medical technician, both of which align to nursing degrees. The inaugural class started in August with 59 students enrolled from 15 participating schools.

DC HEAL is led by the DC Hospital Association and CityWorks DC, in partnership with Whitman-Walker, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, Children’s National Hospital, Forest Hills DC, and Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home.

DC HEAL is a long-term investment in DC’s future workforce and represents a true citywide collaboration between skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, clinics, education partners, and community organizations. We are proud to partner with businesses, education providers and community leaders to create an education and workforce solution that provides DC residents with pathways to upward mobility, and career opportunities in our health care system.

— Jacqueline D. Bowens, President & CEO, DC Hospital Association

Washington, DC offers CTE programs at 32 public high schools, up from ten schools in 2015. Programs available to students across DC include engineering, biotechnology, cybersecurity, nursing, EMT, teacher education and training, auto tech, and much more. And District high school students are taking advantage—CTE enrollment has increased by 90% since 2019.

Read the Full Story
Washington University logo
Washington University logo
Washington University logo
Washington University logo
Washington University logo

The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is managed by the District of Columbia Hospital Association Program Services Company, Inc.

The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is funded wholly or in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Workforce Investment Council (WIC).