HealthX
Paid Healthcare Career Exploration Fellowship
Explore and experience patient care, emergency services, and medical imaging
Healthcare touches every life. What's your role in it?
HealthX is a five-month, paid fellowship that takes you deep into three healthcare pathways.
- In Patient Care, you’ll work alongside nurses, learning the hands-on skills that make patients feel safe and cared for.
- In Emergency Services, you'll experience the fast-moving, high-stakes world of EMTs, where every second counts.
- In Medical Imaging, you'll step into the world of radiologic technologists, sonographers, and nuclear medicine specialists — the professionals who help doctors see what's happening inside the body.
Along the way, you’ll build the durable skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, leadership – that carry into any career, earn your Basic Life Support certification, and create a personalized career plan informed by months of hands-on experience.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Hear from students and get a feel for Ridgeline’s HealthX Fellowship through this video feature from the 2025-26 program.
Program highlights
paid:
HealthX fellows who meet program attendance and engagement requirements receive a learning stipend of $1,000
whAT:
30+ hours hands-on experience and 30+ hours durable skill building in a healthcare context
who:
- 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County
- Priority given to applicants from low-income backgrounds and who reside or attend school in Richmond, California
- 50 spots available
WHEN:
- December 2026 - April 2027
- Weekly afterschool on Thursdays 4:30 - 6:30 PM + 7 full-day work-based learning intensives
- See full schedule here
Location:
- Afterschool sessions in West Contra Costa County (likely Richmond; final location confirmed by early October)
- Full-day intensives at industry partner sites (primarily in the East Bay)
Application deadline:
- Priority deadline – September 25, 2026
- Final deadline – October 9, 2026
We review applications on a rolling basis, and spots are limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible
Get paid to launch your future in healthcare
This five-month, out-of-school time program is built for 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County who are curious about what’s next beyond high school.
Through site visits, hands-on training, and real conversations with professionals, you’ll:
- Discover high-paying healthcare jobs in patient care, medical imaging, and emergency services
- Explore different career paths – from apprenticeships and certificate training programs to college
- Build durable skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and self-awareness
- Earn your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Build your resume and career plan
- Get paid!
Whether you want to care for patients, work with cutting-edge technology, or respond when it matters most, HealthX is your starting line – and a direct path to priority consideration for Ridgeline’s HealthWorks CNA and (coming soon) EMT certification programs.
APply here today!
Priority deadline: September 25, 2026, 9:00 AM
Final deadline: October 9, 2026, 9:00 AM
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot.
Application & Selection Timeline
Sept. 17
Information session:
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM (Zoom Link)
Sept. 25
Priority application deadline:
9:00 AM
oct. 9
Final application deadline:
9:00 AM
OCT. 5 - Oct. 30
15-minute virtual interviews
Oct. 21 - Nov. 3
Decision notifications
What You’ll Need to Do
To apply for HealthX, complete the online application by October 9, 2026.
As part of the application, you’ll need to:
Answer a few questions about your background and career interests
Submit one video response (2-3 minutes) - Why HealthX? Introduce yourself and tell us why you are interested in the HealthX Fellowship and how you think HealthX can help you reach your career goals.
Submit one written response (300-500 words) - Initiative & Problem-Solving Story: Describe a time when you noticed a problem, stepped in without being asked, and saw it through, even when it wasn't easy. What led you to act, and what did you do? It's okay if it didn't go perfectly; we're just as interested in how you handled it as in the outcome. What did this experience teach you about how you show up when no one is directing you? (This can be something from school, work, or your personal life. It doesn't have to be healthcare related.)
For Application assistance
Have questions about your application, need help uploading your video response, or want a second set of eyes before you submit? Sign up for a free 15-minute slot with our team. Bring your draft, your tech troubles, or just a "does this sound okay?" We'll help you sort out logistics, answer any questions, and give honest, quick feedback so you can apply with confidence.
Why should I join this pathway program?
Join a program that goes way beyond the classroom. If you’re already thinking about a career in healthcare, HealthX is your chance to explore, experience, and start building your future. Here are some of the program benefits for HealthX.
Explore a range of healthcare careers
From EMT and nurse to lesser-known roles like radiologic technologist and nuclear medicine technologist, you’ll get to discover healthcare jobs you might not have heard of, but could be a great fit for your talents and interests.
Learn by doing - and get paid!
You won’t just hear about careers, you’ll experience them. Through hands-on simulations, employer panels, and site visits, you’ll get a feel for what different roles are really like. And yes, you’ll get paid for showing up and putting in the work.
Connect with employers
Meet healthcare professionals, ask questions, get advice, and start building your network and social capital. You’ll gain insight into what it takes to succeed and how to start preparing now.
Get clear on your next career steps
With the help of career reflection tools, you’ll walk away with more clarity, confidence, and a plan for the next steps in your career journey.
Fast-track your next certification
Completing HealthX gives you priority consideration for Ridgeline's HealthWorks programs — industry-recognized certification pathways in roles like CNA and EMT. It's a head start on turning your HealthX experience into a credential and job.
Am I eligible to join?
Ridgeline’s HealthX fellowship is designed for
young people who are:
In 11th or 12th grade
Note: Students under 18 will need a parent/guardian consent form to participate.
Living in or attending school in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County
Priority given to applicants from low-income backgrounds and who reside or attend school in Richmond, California.
Can commit to attending ALL afterschool sessions and full-day intensives
From December 2026 through April 2027.
Review the detailed schedule here.
Curious about healthcare career options
Excited to learn, meet new people, and try new things.
No GPA or healthcare experience required
Just motivation, curiosity, and commitment!
Meet a HealthX Fellow
Anthony Pablo from Richmond High School shares more about the HealthX experience.
Can I commit to the program requirements?
Regular program times: All program sessions meet in-person from December 2026 through April 2027. Weekly afterschool sessions run on Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30 PM. Full-day intensives typically run 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM.
Understand attendance requirements
To receive the learning stipend, fellows must be present, prepared, and fully engaged at each session with at least an 85% attendance rate. Successful participation in the capstone showcase at the conclusion of the program is also required prior to final payment disbursement. Please review the session dates and times carefully.
What if HealthX overlaps with my school schedule?
Before you apply, check with your school counselor about independent study contracts. HealthX’s full-day intensives are scheduled around school holidays and breaks, but Bay Area school districts don't all follow the same calendar. If an intensive date falls on a school day for you, an independent study contract ensures your absence is excused and your school keeps its funding.
The HealthX Journey
Actual program scope may vary based on employer and training partnerships.
December-JanuarY
Vital Signs
Build your professional foundation. Reflect on who you are, how to make a strong first impression, and how to communicate and problem-solve like a healthcare pro. Pass your durable skills assessment to earn your HealthX scrubs: your ticket to work-based learning.
Get hands-on with patient care skills that every healthcare role depends on like communication, vitals, EKG, and venipuncture.
FebruarY
Emergency Services
Step into emergency response. Train alongside EMT trainees in hands-on emergency skills and earn your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Along the way, reflect on your growing strengths and skills, and get an introduction to social capital: the relationships that can open doors in your career.
MARCH
Patient Care
Go deeper into patient care through realistic simulations — from a patient in crisis to post-surgical recovery — the kind of high-stakes moments healthcare professionals face every day.
Build your networking skills through informational interviews, start planning your next steps with goal-setting and backwards mapping, and get real-world financial literacy — including what it actually costs to pursue a healthcare training program.
April
Inside the Body
Explore medical imaging, the tech and techniques used to see what's happening inside the human body – from X-ray to ultrasound and nuclear medicine.
Run through a job search bootcamp, then move into capstone prep, building your career poster and practicing your final presentation.
ApriL
Grand ROunds
Bring it all together. Present your career plan at your Grand Rounds capstone showcase – celebrating five months of exploration, skill-building, and relationships with healthcare professionals.
What kinds of jobs can I get in the healthcare industry?
Emergency Services
Medical Imaging
Patient Care
Wage ranges reflect BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) percentile data for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro areas.
Want to explore more?
The tables above cover sample jobs within the three HealthX pathways, but healthcare offers dozens more career routes — from respiratory therapy to health information management to dental hygiene. Here are two free tools that can help you go deeper:
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook – Healthcare: Browse detailed profiles for hundreds of healthcare careers, including job duties, education requirements, pay, and job outlook. Filter by pay range, education level, or growth rate to find roles that fit your interests.
CareerOneStop – Healthcare & Human Services Career Cluster: Explore healthcare careers organized by education level — from roles you can start right after high school to careers requiring an advanced degree — with career videos and links to training programs for each.
APply here today!
Priority deadline: September 25, 2026, 9:00 AM
Final deadline: October 9, 2026, 9:00 AM
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot!
FAQs
Yes! In fact, qualifying fellows receive a learning stipend of $1,000. We’ll also cover snacks, materials, and certification costs.
The term fellowship is often used for programs that are funded, cohort-based, involve an application process, and offer resources to support your development. Fellowships typically ask for a bigger commitment than traditional extracurricular or after-school programs — and lead to more advanced outcomes as a result. We're proud to call this program a fellowship and our participants fellows to highlight this sense of commitment, community, and growth. Plus, it helps boost your resume!
No experience required. The program is designed for curious students who want to explore healthcare careers from the ground up. Your willingness to learn and commit matters far more than prior knowledge.
Not at all! This program is about deep healthcare career exploration. If you’re curious about healthcare, open to learning, and ready to discover new paths you might not have considered before – HealthX is for you.
Yes. All HealthX fellows who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion that can be added to your resume.
BLS stands for Basic Life Support — a certification that shows you’ve been trained to respond in emergency situations using CPR, AEDs (automated external defibrillators), and other life-saving skills.
You’ll complete a BLS course as part of the HealthX program, and if you pass, you’ll earn an official industry-recognized certificate that many hospitals and healthcare employers require for jobs or internships.
Whether you’re planning to work in healthcare or just want to be prepared to help others in an emergency, the BLS certification is a valuable credential to have—and it looks great on your resume or college applications.
Qualifying fellows will receive stipends with payments distributed twice throughout the program and once at the end – after key work-based learning requirements are met.
You’ll receive more details about payment and expectations if you’re selected. Just remember: showing up, participating fully, and staying engaged is how you earn your stipend and have the most rewarding experience!
Your learning stipend can be used for transportation to participate in this program. We will also offer need-based prepaid transportation cards or reimbursement options to support participants who need assistance getting to work-based learning sites.
Print or share flyers and download or share graphics for your school, class, newsletters, social media, or websites, or digital screens, using this marketing toolkit. Reach out to bonnie@ridgelinepathways.org if you would like to collaborate on marketing or need additional materials.
Reach out to healthx@ridgelinepathways.org or
sign-up for help with your application here.
Thank you to our community partners and funders!
Ridgeline is offering the HealthX Fellowship as a paid program for students thanks to the generous support of philanthropic funders, donors, and community partners, including the Ignite Fund of the Roberts Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Payette River Foundation, and Richmond YouthWORKS.
Let's partner!
We’re looking to fundamentally change how education connects to economic opportunity. Are you ready to get involved?
Reach out to hello@ridgelinepathways.org
Ways to donate
Donations have an immediate and long-term impact. Your support means young people have the resources and pathways to reach their education and career goals.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Let’s create hands-on learning opportunities and build career pathways together. Grow your organization’s engagement, build your talent pipeline, and be a part of community impact.
