HYPE Summer Academy

With thousands of vacant or anticipated frontline clinical positions in Charlotte, North Carolina, the demand for health care professionals is significant. Between 2023 and 2027, an estimated 60,000 frontline clinical positions, including 43,000 nurses, will be needed in Charlotte alone. The Healthcare Youth Pathways to Employment (HYPE) program aims to inspire and prepare the next generation of health care professionals. 

Goals of the program 

HYPE strives to:

• Inspire and prepare the next generation of health care professionals 
• Respond to regional and organizational workforce needs 
• Expose high school students to a variety of health care fields 

Students will engage in in a variety of hands-on experiences including: 

• Weekly rotations – shadow health care professionals to experience a “day in the profession” across different roles 
• Facility placement* – assignment to one facility for the duration of the program 
• Interactive learning – take part in weekly professional development sessions, simulations, activities and volunteer opportunities 
  
  *2026 participating facilities include Atrium Health Cabarrus, Atrium Health Cleveland, Atrium Health Lincoln, Atrium Health Stanly, Atrium Health Union, Atrium Health Union West, and Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Facilities in Davidson, Davie, Randolph and Yadkin counties TBD.

Program details 

Students selected for the four-week HYPE Summer Academy program should expect to dedicate up to 32 hours a week, Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. To compensate for missed summer work opportunities, participants will receive a $2,250 stipend. The 2026 summer program starts Monday, June 15 and ends on Saturday, July 18 with a break between June 30 to July 4. 

See how the HYPE Summer Academy helps students gain real-world healthcare experience. 

Application process 

Students must complete the application, essay and provide a teacher or school administrator recommendation. Selected students will be notified via email and must complete onboarding requirements. Failure to complete required items by the deadline will make the student ineligible to participate. Applications will be open will open on Monday, March 9 and close Friday, May 15 at midnight.

Eligibility criteria

• Interest in pursuing a career in health care 
• At least 16 years of age at the start of the program; rising junior or senior grade level 
• Attend school in Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Stanly and Union counties. This year, the program is expanding to Anson, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Randolph, Rutherford and Yadkin County students. 
• Minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA 
• Complete and submit all required application materials 
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor 
• If selected, can participate and complete the program 

Mentorship Opportunity  

HYPE Mentorship opportunities are open to Atrium teammates as well as current medical students, nursing students and APP students at Atrium Health. You must currently work or be in rotation at an Atrium Health facility in Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Gaston, Randolph, Lincoln, Stanly, Union and Yadkin counties. Mentors must complete a brief application that assists with paring. 

• HYPE Mentor Interest Form

What Did the HYPE Scholars Say? 

“The biggest impact that HYPE had on my interest in healthcare was that it expanded my knowledge about different careers. I believe that before, I only really thought about becoming a physician, but after this program, I was able to understand better. I was able to give some other careers a try and learn more about what they do.” Lorena Ramirez 

“My favorite experience was getting to know more people and creating close bonds that were unexpected. I'm truly grateful for the people that are now a part of my life because of HYPE.” Vanity White   

“The part of the HYPE program that impacted me the most was the experience part of the program. Not only did I get a first-hand view of what it is like in the field, I also got to see the struggles that the professionals face and how their peers help them overcome and work together as a team. Seeing the teamwork of healthcare made me less nervous for my future career and let me know I will always be able to ask for help if needed.” Reghan Suhr