Program Summary
Texas Health Resources' Youth Prodigy Program, offered through our Center for Learning & Career Development, is an educational and employment opportunity for high school graduates interested in a career in nursing. Texas Health’s goal is to "grow our own" and to create a pipeline of future health care professionals by providing a career-path framework that guides our youth from high school to a professional health care career.
The Prodigy program is designed to be a pathway to eventually earning a bachelor's degree in nursing by first earning an associate degree, with college-credit prerequisite courses taken at DFW-area community colleges. This is all done while working as a Texas Health employee.
The Prodigy program offers 10 weeks (early June-early August) of paid training to become an entry-level patient care technician. Included in the training is instruction and guidance about how to be a successful Texas Health employee and college student.
Once Prodigy students complete the summer training and pass a national Patient Care Technician (PCT) certification exam, they apply for part-time positions at Texas Health facilities. These paid, part-time positions afford them the same benefits as any other part-time Texas Health employee — including our tuition reimbursement program. This benefit is used to help fund first an associate degree, then a bachelor’s degree, in nursing.
"This program is life-changing for the students and their families, and we are thrilled to be a part of not only shaping their career paths but also serving as their introduction to the field of health care," said Dr. Jim Dunn, Texas Health's chief learning officer.
Program Application
The application deadline for the summer 2013 Youth Prodigy Program cohort was Feb. 15. We are no longer accepting applications for that cohort. The application for the summer 2014 cohort is expected to be available in mid-January.
For More Information
For more information, including the application process and deadlines, see this "Youth Prodigy Program Snapshot."
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