Meet the inaugural HealthX Fellows bringing purpose and perseverance to the healthcare industry

Note: This article originally appeared on making-waves.org and was republished on ridgelinepathways.org in June 2026. References to "Making Waves Education Foundation" were adjusted to "Ridgeline" since the HealthX Fellowship is now a part of Ridgeline. Watch the 2026 HealthX Fellowship recap here.

Pilot career pathway program is a part of emerging model for students in grades 11 –14

Article highlights

• The HealthX Fellowship is a paid, hands-on program for next generation of healthcare professionals in the Bay Area.
• Ridgeline is partnering with Kaiser among other collaborators to provide this work-based learning experience, which includes mentorship, a stipend, and a healthcare credential.
• 50 students in grades 11-12 at 12+ high schools or districts across Contra Costa County were selected, among 150+ applicants.
• It's a part of its emerging model focusing on grades 11-14, with plans to connect this pilot to dual enrollment, internships, and continued advising in grades 13 and 14 so that students can move from early exploration into college credit, credentials, and high-wage roles.

Ridgeline is welcoming 50 exceptional high school juniors and seniors into the HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway, a hands-on and paid program designed to launch the next generation of healthcare professionals from Bay Area communities.

Student interest in HealthX was strong from the start.

• More than 150 students applied, underscoring the student demand for work-based learning programs.
• The cohort represents more than 12 high schools and districts across the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County – including De Anza High School, El Cerrito High School, Making Waves Academy, Mount Diablo High School, Pittsburg High School, Richmond High School, and Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais.
• The majority of participants are attending schools where more than 70% of students are economically disadvantaged.
• Many are first-generation college-bound students, and several participated in Making Waves’ earlier Hands-On Health pilot.

“Through the HealthX application process, students named persistent barriers to reaching economic opportunity: lack of access to real-world exposure, the need for mentorship, and the challenges in navigating complicated systems,” shared Daisy Han (she/her), former VP of career launch at Making Waves, who is leading the program.

“The HealthX Fellowship is designed to address these gaps, and this first application cycle showed us just how urgently it’s needed,” Han shared.

A snapshot of the first cohort of HealthX Fellows

The inaugural class includes 35 high school seniors and 15 juniors. They’re joining from more than 12 high schools across Contra Costa County.

Across their applications, students shared an eagerness to gain hands-on experience, learn from mentors, and get support with the challenging transitions between high school and career. Students also pointed to barriers they face in reaching their career dreams – from limited professional networks to family responsibilities – that can make healthcare careers feel out of reach.

“We’re proud to have selected a cohort that reflects both the excellence and the potential of the communities we serve,” shared Han. “And we are committed to deepening the experience for this inaugural cohort while building a sustainable, equity-driven pipeline into healthcare careers.”

What the HealthX Fellowship offers

The six-month paid fellowship, running from December 2025 through April 2026, gives students hands-on exposure to a wide range of allied health careers. Fellows will earn a $1,000 stipend, meet healthcare professionals, gain their Basic Life Support certification, and build career-readiness skills such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

“HealthX shines a light on high-demand, high-wage healthcare careers – and gives students a paid on-ramp to explore them with meaningful work-based learning experiences,” Han shared.

Students are bringing purpose and perseverance

Applicants’ essays offered moving glimpses into why the first cohort of HealthX Fellows aspire to careers in healthcare and the communities they hope to serve.

One fellow shared how watching a local doctor serve families at a free community clinic sparked their interest in healthcare because they believe there should be more people who make patients feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of income or background.

Another student wrote about organizing health workshops for elders and how they hope to build on that experience by gaining more knowledge, mentorship, and hands-on experience through the HealthX Fellowship.

For one student, the program represents an opportunity to turn the sense of responsibility and the skills they use to care for their younger siblings to support their single mother who works long hours into a professional healthcare role.

“These reflections capture the heart of this new program’s purpose,” shared Han.

“Our students are motivated by more than career curiosity. They’re motivated by care, by justice, by a desire to help others. That’s what makes this cohort so powerful”, shared Han.

Building a healthcare pathway in grades 11–14

HealthX is a key building block in Ridgeline's efforts to blur the lines between high school, college, and career. The program is designed for students in grades 11–12, providing paid work-based learning, mentorship, and a healthcare credential. Over time, the organization plans to connect this pilot to dual enrollment, internships, and continued advising in grades 13 and 14 so that students can move from early exploration in high school into college credit, credentials, and high-wage roles in allied health.

This work responds to a national challenge: college alone no longer guarantees economic mobility. Too often, students navigate the transition from high school to college to career on their own, without coordinated support from schools, colleges, and employers.

“Through programs like HealthX, we are testing our role as an intermediary that helps high schools, colleges and employers work together so young people can secure high-wage jobs,” said Patrick O’Donnell (he/him), former CEO at Making Waves Education Foundation, now Co-Founder and CEO of Ridgeline.

“Our goal is to help young people move more seamlessly from high school to college and into good jobs that provide a living wage, growth potential and upward mobility,” O’Donnell shared.

The strong interest from students, schools and partners across Contra Costa County underscores the demand for programs like this. Students are joining from more than a dozen high schools, and they will get support from experts at Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences and Contra Costa College, who are helping ensure that what students learn connects directly to high-demand jobs and the skills employers value.

“These programs and collaborations connect students with real-world opportunities and help co-design solutions that serve both young people and the regional economy,” O’Donnell shared.

Supported by community and philanthropic partners

The HealthX Fellowship is offered as a paid program thanks to the generous support of philanthropic funders and community partners, including the Payette River Foundation, Contra Costa College, and the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences.

“Partnerships make it possible to design programs that meet both student and employer needs,” shared Han. “By working together, we can create models that prepare young people for success and respond to the region’s workforce demands.”

Congrats to the first cohort of HealthX Fellows!

“The inaugural HealthX Fellows embody the curiosity, determination, and leadership that define the next generation of healthcare professionals. Their journeys are just beginning, and their impact will be felt for years to come,” Han shared.

Meet the first HealthX Fellows