On November 13, 2024, Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR), with generous support from the Steele Reese Foundation and MAI Financial Advisors, held its first Healthcare Career Pathway Fair of the school year at the Corbin Arena. This interactive and immersive event welcomed over 350 high school students from across Eastern Kentucky, providing them with invaluable resources and hands-on experiences in healthcare careers, a sector with growing demand and opportunities in the region.

A Day of Discovery and Opportunities

The Healthcare Career Pathway Fair offered a gateway for students to explore pathways that could start as early as high school, allowing them to earn credentials that provide entry into healthcare roles even before graduation. Local healthcare facilities often offer support for continuing education, with stackable credentials and degrees at little to no cost, helping students advance their careers without accumulating debt.

Schools that participated in the Healthcare Career Pathway Fair were:

• North Laurel High School
• Red Bird Christian School
• Jackson County Area Technology Center
• McCreary Central High School
• Barbourville High School
• Corbin High School
• Somerset High School
• Clay County Area Technology Center

Hands-On Sessions with Leading Healthcare Providers

In addition to connecting students with educational resources, the fair featured hands-on sessions led by healthcare providers, including Pikeville Medical Center, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, and St. Joseph London. These interactive sessions provided students with real-world insights into the healthcare field, sparking interest and allowing them to envision their future roles within the industry.

The Growing Demand for Healthcare Professionals in Eastern Kentucky

Healthcare job growth in Eastern Kentucky is projected to rise by 29% through 2029, underscoring the urgent need to connect students with career pathways that can lead them into healthcare roles locally. Traditional pathways, such as full-time college, are no longer the only options; students now have the opportunity to earn credentials, gain work experience, and pursue additional education through employer-sponsored programs. This flexibility opens doors to fulfilling, good-paying jobs in the Appalachian region and supports the local economy and community health.

The Eastern Kentucky Healthcare Action Plan

To address the growing need for healthcare professionals, SOAR has created the Eastern Kentucky Healthcare Action Plan. This plan addresses key questions:

• What’s at stake for Eastern Kentucky hospitals?
• How will the current trajectory impact our community’s quality of life?
• How can we prepare more residents for healthcare careers?
• What solutions are available today?

The plan seeks to address a national challenge with local, sustainable solutions, fostering a homegrown healthcare workforce to meet the region’s needs.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Partners

This event would not have been possible without the generous contributions and support of numerous sponsors and partners, who helped make the Healthcare Career Pathway Fair a success.

Thank you to our sponsors

In addition to funding provided by the Steele Reese Foundation, MAI Management Advisors and the Forcht Group of Kentucky provided support to cover transportation stipends for area schools. Other sponsors were:

• Pikeville Medical Center
• Appalachian Regional Healthcare
• Baptist Health Corbin
• UK Healthcare
• Kentucky Hospital Association
• Saint Joseph London
• UK King’s Daughters Medical Center
• UK St. Claire 
• Kentucky Primary Care Association
• Kentucky Department for Public Health

Thank you to our providers

Special thanks to our providers and training partners. 

• Pikeville Medical Center
• UK Healthcare
• Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky
• Beacons of Hope
• Appalachian Regional Healthcare
• Baptist Health Corbin
• Advent Health Manchester
• Saint Joseph London
• Eastern Kentucky University
• Somerset Community College
• Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
• Mountain Comprehensive Care Center
• Galen College
• Union Commonwealth University 
• University of the Cumberlands
• Appalachian College of Pharmacy
• KCEOC Community Action
• Lake Cumberland Workforce

We’re heading to Pikeville and Morehead

Next up, we’ll be taking the Healthcare Career Pathway Fair to Pikeville and Morehead. 

• February 26, 2025 | Pikeville Healthcare Career Pathway Fair | Appalachian Wireless Arena
• March 18, 2025 | Morehead Healthcare Career Pathway Fair | Morehead State University

Interested in participating or attending? Contact Kirsten Wilburn, SOAR’s Events Manager, at kirsten@soar-ky.org. 

The power of convening

The Healthcare Career Pathway Fair exemplifies the power of community partnership and local innovation in creating new career pathways for Eastern Kentucky students. By providing hands-on experiences, educational resources, and interactive sessions, the event helps equip students for a future in healthcare, supporting both the local economy and the well-being of communities across Eastern Kentucky. Through collaboration with dedicated sponsors and partners, SOAR is helping to build a skilled healthcare workforce that will meet the region’s needs today and in the years to come.

See event images here.