New six-month work-based learning program connects Contra Costa County teens with the skills, certifications, and mentors needed for in-demand healthcare jobs 

Making Waves Education Foundation is launching the HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway, a new six-month program designed to help Contra Costa County high school juniors and seniors explore in-demand healthcare jobs while earning a stipend, credentials, skills, and a support system. 

The Making Waves fellowship begins in December 2025 and runs through April 2026. It includes weekly sessions after school on Wednesdays and monthly full-day experiences on Saturdays. Students will meet and learn from professionals with the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences while gaining hands-on experience and their Basic Life Support certification. They will also practice communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and presentation skills. And, to help remove barriers for student participation, Making Waves is offering support for transportation and a stipend of up to $1,000. 

Healthcare jobs as pathways to economic mobility for students 

“Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Bay Area – and a leading sector for advancing economic opportunity,” shared Aiyana Mourtos (she/her), chief program officer at Making Waves Education Foundation.  

“Everyone’s heard of doctors and nurses, but most students don’t know about many other high-demand, high-wage jobs behind the scenes – from radiologic technologists to sonographers to nuclear medicine specialists,” she shared. 

The challenge is there is often a disconnect between the employers looking to hiring and the students looking for the skills, work experience, networks, and confidence to pursue these roles. 

“HealthX is about changing that,” Mourtos shared. “This program gives students exposure, skills, and options; so, they can start building a future pathway to long-term economic mobility.” 

Prioritizing commitment to learning over GPA or prior work experience 

As part of efforts to expand access to jobs in healthcare, there are no GPA or healthcare experience requirements for students interested in applying for the HealthX Fellowship.  

“HealthX is designed with equity at the center,” shared Daisy Han (she/her), VP of career launch at Making Waves Education Foundation.  

“Too often, careers in healthcare feel out of reach for young people, especially those from low-income backgrounds, who may not be able to afford to take unpaid internships, don’t have connections, or prior work experience. That’s why we designed this fellowship intentionally focused on access and opportunity,” Han shared.

“We’re looking for curiosity, consistency, and commitment, and the application includes questions around student goals and problem-solving skills,” Han shared. “Every student deserves the chance to explore meaningful careers, gain real skills, and imagine bold new possibilities for their future.” 

A pilot as a part of Making Waves’ vision to expand career pathways 

HealthX builds on Making Waves’ history of supporting students from middle school and high school through college – adding more of a focus on career-connected and work-based learning opportunities. 

“At Making Waves, two things are true,” said Patrick O’Donnell (he/him), CEO at Making Waves Education Foundation. “First, we’re proud of what our students have achieved. Our college success model has delivered strong results, with most students earning college degrees without any debt.” 

“Second, the world has changed: a college degree still matters, but too many graduates are underemployed, and the systems that prepare students for life after high school are fragmented. Young people need clearer, faster, and more affordable routes into good jobs,” O’Donnell shared. 

Backed by philanthropic and community partners, the HealthX Fellowship is a pilot as a part of Making Waves’ evolving vision that aims to blur the lines between high school, college, and career to open more doors to economic mobility. 

“Programs like HealthX are important early steps to support more young people in Contra Costa County to land jobs that provide a living wage, growth potential, and upward mobility,” O’Donnell shared. 

Building on a successful Making Waves and Kaiser partnership 

The HealthX program is expanding on a successful partnership between Making Waves and Kaiser from this past spring. The first pilot, known as Hands-On Health, led to 100% of students gaining increased information about career pathways, increased social capital connections, stronger durable skills, and renewed motivation for their future.

Now, Making Waves is further testing its intermediary role between employers and schools, while gathering data and understanding what works best for students, schools, and companies. 

“We’re testing how early exploration, hands-on learning, and credentialing can shift what young people believe is possible for their future,” shared Mourtos. 

“We’re also learning what it takes to build stackable, flexible pathways – from high school to high-wage careers – in partnership with employers, colleges, and schools. What we learn here will shape the future of career-connected learning in Contra Costa County. It’s a critical step in Making Waves’ commitment to building scalable, equitable pathways to economic mobility,” she shared. 

HealthX made possible by philanthropic and community support 

Making Waves 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 IGNITE Fund of the Roberts Foundation, the Payette River Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences. 

Applications now open! 

Applications are now open for the HealthX Fellowship. High school students in 11th or 12th grade from the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County are encouraged to apply by the September 19, 2025 priority deadline or October 15, 2025 final deadline.