Mastery Schools and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are thrilled to celebrate the successful completion of an exciting dual enrollment pilot program. This past spring, participating seniors from Hardy Williams High School engaged in skill-building and hands-on experiences in clinical care, hospital operations, and healthcare administration roles.  

Students in the pilot engaged in a dynamic curriculum that combined academic instruction with specialized work-based experiences and mentorship provided by CHOP. As part of this experience, students had access to a variety of skill-building opportunities, including certifications in areas like Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Stop the Bleed. Fourteen students also passed industry-recognized exams: nine in medical assisting, two in sterile lab processing, and three in CompTIA IT Fundamentals. These accomplishments reflect the confidence, practical skills, and real-world experience that students gained through the program.  

During an end-of-pilot celebration at the school, students and staff reflected on their experiences. “Information Technology has always been of interest to me since I was a child, so when I learned about this opportunity with CHOP, I was immediately drawn in,” said Mohamed Ba, a participant in the IT track who successfully obtained his CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification. “This program has given me a broader understanding of the world and technology and has provided me the chance to take a step toward the career and future I desire.” 

Speaking about the wide array of skills the students acquired through the program, Sterile Lab Processing instructor Nancy Schoolfield remarked, “Everything you need for your career path is within you now; it will be there when you need it. I look forward to seeing you become leaders, supervisors, directors, and educators. Keep striving and achieving.” 

Health Institute at Hardy, a more robust version of the program piloted this spring, will officially launch for students in grades 7-9 at Hardy Williams High School this August and expand an additional grade each year until 2028. This pilot program establishes a strong foundation as Mastery and CHOP, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, continue their efforts to create opportunities for students to enter and thrive in promising healthcare careers.