Application Open for 2026-2027 HealthX Fellowship: High Schoolers Earn $1,000 to Experience Patient Care, Emergency Services, and Medical Imaging Careers

In partnership with healthcare partners like Kaiser Permanente, Ridgeline has opened the application for the 2026-2027 HealthX Fellowship, a free, five-month, paid fellowship for 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area's Contra Costa County. You'll explore and experience high-paying careers across patient care, emergency services, and medical imaging, earn your Basic Life Support, or BLS, certification, meet mentors, and receive a $1,000 learning stipend for meeting attendance and engagement requirements.

At a Glance: 2026-2027 HealthX Program Eligibibility, Dates, Location, and Pay

Who‍

• 50 spots are available for 11th and 12th graders who live in or attend school in the Bay Area's Contra Costa County.
• Priority is given to students from low-income backgrounds or attend school in Richmond, California.
• No GPA or healthcare experience required!

When‍

• HealthX runs winter through spring of the 2026-2027 school year, December 2026 through April 2027.
• The program runs after-school (Thursdays 4:30-6:30 PM and on monthly Saturdays).

Where

• West Contra Costa County (likely Richmond) and industry partner sites, primarily in the East Bay.
• All in-person!

Pay

• $1,000 learning stipend for meeting attendance and engagement requirements.

Cost

• Free!

Application deadline

• ‍October 9, 2026, 9 AM. Apply here.

In Case You Missed It: HealthX Fellowship Info Session

A Free (In Fact, You'll Earn $1,000) Healthcare Career Development Program for High School Juniors and Seniors

If you're searching for paid healthcare internships for high schoolers, medical programs for teens, or free career-based after-school programs in Richmond, Contra Costa County, or the East Bay, HealthX was built for you.

Through hospital and medical site visits, hands-on training, and conversations with healthcare professionals, you'll:

• Discover high-paying healthcare jobs.
• Explore career paths, from internships and apprenticeships to clinicals and certificate programs to college.
• Build durable and professional skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
• Earn your BLS certification.
• Build your resume and career plan.
• Gain a community of mentors and peers to support your career journey!

The program includes 30+ hours of hands-on experience and 30+ hours of durable skill building in a healthcare context.

Healthcare Careers You'll Explore: Nursing, EMT, and Medical Imaging

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 BLS certification, and create a personalized career plan informed by months of hands-on experience.

HealthX Winter and Spring 2027 Schedule

Weekly afterschool sessions run Thursdays 4:30–6:30 PM. Full-day intensives typically run 9:30 AM–2:30 PM. All sessions are in-person.

• ‍December–January: Vital Signs. Pass your durable skills assessment to earn your HealthX scrubs, then practice vitals, EKG, and venipuncture.‍
• February: Emergency Services. Train alongside EMT trainees and earn your BLS certification.‍
• March: Patient Care. Work through patient care simulations and learn what it costs to pursue a healthcare training program.‍
• April: Inside the Body and Grand Rounds. Explore X-ray, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine, then present your career plan at the capstone showcase.

Actual program scope may vary based on employer and training partnerships. See the detailed schedule on the HealthX webpage.

Benefits of a Healthcare Career Program in High School

• Paid work experience. Gain 30+ hours of hands-on learning experience through simulations, employer panels, and site visits.‍
• Employer connections. Grow your network of connections and mentors in the healthcare industry to ask questions, get advice, and hear about different career paths and job opportunities.
• Professional skills. Gain 30+ hours of skill-building for durable and professionals skills that are important for healthcare jobs and beyond, including communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.
• Career plan and future opportunities. Get support building your career plan with concrete next steps. Plus, get a head start on CNA and EMT certification. Completing HealthX gives you priority consideration for Ridgeline's HealthWorks CNA program and (coming soon) EMT certification program.

What Students Have To Say: HealthX Fellow Testimonials

Hear from students in the 2025-2026 HealthX Fellowship.

"HealthX changed me. It changed the way I think, the way I go about myself, and the way that I approach others. This program is the foundation of who I will be."
— Anthony Pablo, Richmond High School, Richmond, California

"I want to be the one who helps people in a healthcare career. HealthX has definitely helped boost my confidence. If you come here you'll come out a different person, having gained all these skills, and being one step closer to your career goals."
— Bryan Martinez, Making Waves Academy, Richmond, California

"The number one skill I've picked up on is comunication. Throughout HealthX, because we're placed with people we don't know, it pushes you to open up and communicate."
— Aayusha Bhandari, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, California

How the $1,000 Student Learning Stipend Works

• Fellows must maintain at least an 85% attendance rate and take part in the capstone showcase before final payment.
• Payments go out twice during the program and once at the end, after key work-based learning requirements are met.

How to Apply for the 2026-2027 HealthX Fellowship

Here is what you will need to complete the online application by October 9, 2026, 9 AM.

1. Answer a few questions about your background and career interests.
2. 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.
   
3. 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.)

Application resources

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and spots are limited. Decisions go out Oct. 21 – Nov. 3.‍
• Application help: Book a free 15-minute session to get guidance before applying or follow the video response instructions.

Top HealthX FAQs

Is HealthX free for high schoolers?
Yes. We cover snacks, materials, and certification costs, and fellows receive a $1,000 learning stipend.

Do I need healthcare experience to apply for the HealthX Fellowship?
No experience is required to join the HealthX Fellowship, just strong curiosity and commitment to explore and experience careers in healthcare.

What is a BLS certification? Why is it important?
Basic Life Support certification shows you're trained in CPR, AEDs, and other life-saving skills. Many hospitals and healthcare employers require it.

Will I get a certificate when I complete the HealthX Fellwoship?
Yes, fellows who complete the program receive a Certificate of Completion.

Is transportation covered for traveling in the Bay Area?
Your stipend can be used for transportation. We also offer need-based prepaid transportation cards or reimbursement.

View the full FAQ and specifics on Bay Area salaries and careers in healthcare on the HealthX Fellowship webpage.