HealthX Fellowship
Paid Career Pathway
Explore.
Experience.
Excel.
What if your future career in healthcare is one you haven’t even heard of yet?
Everyone knows about doctors and nurses — but the healthcare world is so much bigger. From radiologic technologists and phlebotomists, to sonographers, medical assistants, and nuclear medicine specialists — there are dozens of in-demand, high-paying careers in the medical field that make a real difference every day. Ridgeline's HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is your chance to explore them.
Featured video
Hear from students and get a feel for Ridgeline’s HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway through this video feature from the 2026 program.
Program highlights
WHO:
11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area's Contra Costa County
LOcation:
Richmond, California
WHEN:
December 2025 - April 2026 (weekly afterschool on Wednesdays + monthly Saturdays)
WHAT YOU GET:
Career exposure, skills training, mentorship, site visits, Basic Life Support certification
COST:
Free – in fact, you’ll get paid up to $1,000 in a stipend to participate!
SPOTS AVAILABLE:
50 students will be selected
Get paid to launch your future in healthcare
This six-month, out-of-school 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, career-connected learning activities, and real conversations with professionals, you’ll:
- Discover high-paying healthcare jobs and figure
- Learn essential skills in healthcare
- Earn a Basic Life Support certification
- Build your resume
- Get paid!
Whether you want to help people, work with technology, or just find a career that feels meaningful and exciting, Ridgeline's HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is your starting line.
Application now closed
Email hello@ridgelinepathways.org to get added to the email list for future opportunities
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, Making Waves’ HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway 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 medical assistant to nursing to lesser-known roles like sonographer and nuclear medicine technologist, you’ll get to discover healthcare jobs you might not have heard of — but could be perfect for you through this paid career exploration program.
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 real 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 assessment tools, you’ll walk away with more clarity, confidence, and a plan for your next steps in your career journey.
Am I eligible
to join?
Ridgeline's HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway program is designed for young adults who are:
In 11th or 12th grade
Must be 16 years old by January 7, 2026 and students under 18 years 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 who reside or attend school in Richmond, California.
Can commit to attending weekly sessions and monthly Saturday events
From December 2025 through April 2026
Curious about healthcare career options
Excited to learn, meet new people, and try new things.
No GPA or healthcare experience required
Just curiosity, consistency, and commitment!
Can I commit to the program requirements?
IMPORTANT: Please make sure that you have checked session dates and times carefully. To get paid the stipend, you’ll need to be present, prepared, and fully engaged at each session; and maintain at least an 80% attendance rate.
December
After school Wednesdays: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 @ 4-6 p.m.
Saturday: 12/6 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
January
After school Wednesdays: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28 @ 4-6 p.m.
Saturday: 1/10 @ 9 a.m-3 p.m.
February
After school Wednesdays: 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25 @ 4-6 p.m.
Saturday: 2/7 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
March
After school Wednesdays: 3/4, 3/11 @ 4-6 p.m.
Saturday: 3/7 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
April
After school Wednesdays: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 @ 4-6 p.m.
Saturday: 4/11 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday Showcase: 4/25 @ 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
How to apply for HealthX
To apply for Ridgeline's HealthX Fellowship, complete the online application by October 15. As part of the application, you’ll need to:
Submit your resume
Answer a few questions about your background and career interests
Submit two-short answer responses (300-500 words each)
Why HealthX? Tell us why you are interested in this program. What excites you about it? How do you think HealthX can help you reach your career goals?
Problem-Solving Story: Describe a time when you solved a problem. How did you identify the problem? What steps did you take to fix it? Did it work? What did you learn in the process? (This can be something from school, work, or your personal life – it doesn’t have to be healthcare related.)
Key dates to save for HealthX programming
- Final deadline to apply: October 15, 2025
- Zoom interviews: September 22 – October 24, 2025
- Decision notifications: October 6 – November 3, 2025
Application now closed
Email hello@ridgelinepathways.org to get added to the email list for future opportunities
Here’s what you can expect
December 2025
Build community with peers interested in healthcare
Explore your talents and interests
Learn about different health careers through employer interactions and site visits
January 2026
Earn your Basic Life Support certification
February – April 2026
Deep dive into high-demand, high-wage healthcare careers
Engage in monthly hands-on skills simulations and real-world case studies
Practice durable skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking
Your six-month journey unfolds in stages
Expand your professional network through meaningful connections
Build your professional resume and LinkedIn profile
Reflect on your experience – and create a plan for what’s next
Create and present at a culminating career showcase
FAQs
Yes! In fact, you’ll earn a $1,000 stipend for successfully completing the program. We’ll also cover meals, materials, and certification costs.
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.
The Bay Area’s Contra Costa County is home to 19 cities and numerous unincorporated communities.
Antioch
Brentwood
Clayton
Concord
Town of Danville
El Cerrito
Hercules
Lafayette
Martinez
Town of Moraga
Oakley
Orinda
Pinole
Pittsburg
Pleasant Hill
Richmond
San Pablo
San Ramon
Walnut Creek
District 1
Bayview
East Richmond Heights
El Sobrante
Kensington
Montalvin Manor
North Richmond
Rollingwood
Tara Hills
District 2
Alamo
Blackhawk
Camino Tassajara
Canyon
Castle Hill
Diablo
Norris Canyon
Reliez Valley (partial)
Saranap/Parkmead
District 3
Bethel Island/ Sandmound
Slough
Byron
Discovery Bay
Knightsen
District 4
Acalanes Ridge
Contra Costa Centre
North Gate
Reliez Valley (partial)
San Miguel
Shell Ridge
District 5
Alhambra Valley
Bay Point
Briones
Clyde
Crockett
Mountain View
Pacheco
Port Costa
Reliez Valley (partial)
RodeoVine Hill
You’ll get to explore a variety of healthcare pathways – from entry-level roles like phlebotomy and medical assistant to technical roles like radiologic technologist and sonographer, to degree-based fields like nursing.
Not at all! This program is about deep healthcare career exploration. While doctors and nurses are important, there are many other high-demand, high-wage careers in healthcare – like radiologic technologists, sonographers, nuclear medicine specialists, and more. 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 and college applications.
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.
Fellows will receive stipends via direct deposit, with payments distributed midway through the program and again at the end – once 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!
We offer prepaid transportation cards or reimbursement options to support participants who need assistance getting to the program site.
Reach out to Ridgeline's Head of Program Aiyana Mourtos at aiyana@ridgelinepathways.org for more information.
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 and donors and community partners, including the Payette River Foundation, Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences, and Contra Costa College.
From the trail
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Reach out to us at hello@ridgelinepathways.org
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