At Dripping Springs High School, a dedicated team of health science teachers is guiding its students toward becoming the next generation of healthcare leaders and professionals.
The DSHS Health Science program was established more than a decade ago as part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department. Over time, it has grown to include 14 different classes within five programs of study, each offering a unique industry-based certification. Students can take as many of these classes as they want and earn multiple certifications during their high school years.
One of the biggest programs is the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) pathway, led by registered nurse Chris Treadwell. Students in these classes practice clinical skills they will need to enter future healthcare careers and gain the technical knowledge required to pass the CCMA exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
On any given day in the classroom, you can find CCMA students taking vital signs, performing electrocardiograms, or practicing injections and sutures on advanced, life-like models. They must demonstrate mastery of 39 clinical skills and pass seven NHA assessments during the school year to be eligible to sit for the complete certification exam. In the 2024-2025 school year, the CCMA program graduated 31 credentialed medical assistants and is on track to graduate more than 50 this year.
Students can also take classes and earn credentials in biotechnology or as a pharmacy technician, a certified patient care technician (CPCT), or a certified personal trainer. Each program features a highly qualified educator to guide students in developing distinct skill sets and offers a variety of options for students to gain industry exposure while still in high school.
The Biotechnology and Pharmacy Technician programs are the brainchild of current assistant principal Katie Henry. Before entering the teaching field, Henry worked as a pharmacy tech herself, and she embodies DSHS’s strong commitment to exceptional health science education. Pharmacy tech students are expected to work 100 hours for their credential at local pharmacies as well as practice in a mock pharmacy classroom on campus.
Biotechnology students design and execute complex experiments intended to help them learn about research and laboratory techniques used to advance the medical field. The DSHS biotechnology students also have the chance to earn articulated credit through Austin Community College, which can be transferred to universities upon high school graduation.
CPCT students visit local medical facilities as well, attending rotations at Austin hospitals under the supervision of registered nurse Kelli Szeliga. Students observe medical professionals as they work in a wide variety of departments, allowing them to see day-to-day activities and understand what future careers might entail. Students must commit to the CPCT program by enrolling in a double-blocked class, ensuring they have enough time to complete in-depth instruction applicable to several medical specialties.
The Certified Personal Trainer program is led by fitness professional Lauren Milner, an Army veteran with certifications in personal training, wellness, nutrition, and corrective exercise, as well as a master’s degree in sports and health sciences. The program produced 15 certified personal trainers last year and has 22 candidates for the current school year.
Overall, the DSHS health science program is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when students and educators work together to excel, proving that the next generation of DSHS graduates will lead the way into the future.
DSISDTX.us/o/dshs/page/career-and-technical-education