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 rural and underrepresented 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
*2025 participating facilities include Atrium Health Cabarrus, Atrium Health Cleveland, Atrium Health Lincoln, Atrium Health Stanly, Atrium Health Union, and Atrium Health Union West, with plans to expand to Davie, Wilkes, Stokes and Guilford counties in 2026.
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
$2,000 stipend. The 2025 summer program
starts Monday, June 16 and ends on Thursday, July 17 with a break between June 30 to July 4.
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 until
Friday May 16, at 11:59 p.m.
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, Lincoln, Stanly and Union counties (expanding to Davie, Wilkes, Stokes and Guilford counties in 2026)
- 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. You must currently work or be in rotation at an Atrium facility in Cabarrus, Cleveland, Lincoln, Stanly and Union counties. Mentors must complete a brief application that assists with paring.
