Partnership creates healthcare career pathway for local students

Cartersville, Ga. (July 31, 2026) – Leaders from Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center, Georgia Highlands College, the Georgia Highlands College Foundation and Cartersville City Schools gathered July 30 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Piedmont Cartersville Pre-Healthcare Pathway. The partnership will help local students begin their healthcare education earlier while supporting the growing need for healthcare professionals across Northwest Georgia.

Through the dual enrollment program, Cartersville High School students will be able to complete college-level healthcare prerequisites before graduating from high school. Coursework will include anatomy and physiology, microbiology and other foundational classes that prepare students to pursue nursing, health sciences, medicine, physician assistant studies and other healthcare professions.

The program is expected to initially serve approximately 20 to 25 students annually, with plans to expand enrollment to 40 to 50 students per year as the pathway grows.

As part of the partnership, Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center will provide funding for student educational expenses, instructional resources, faculty support and the development of a medical laboratory at Georgia Highlands College. A medical laboratory on the college’s Cartersville campus also will be named in recognition of Piedmont’s commitment to healthcare education and workforce development.

“This partnership represents an investment in the future of healthcare in our community,” said Lori Rakes, CEO of Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. “By creating opportunities for local students to begin their healthcare education earlier, we are helping remove barriers to career advancement while building a stronger pipeline of talented healthcare professionals who may one day care for patients right here in our region.”

The initiative reflects Piedmont’s commitment to making a positive difference in the communities it serves. By working collaboratively, supporting education and investing in the next generation of caregivers, the participating organizations are creating meaningful opportunities for students while strengthening the future healthcare workforce.

The pathway also offers students a more affordable and efficient route into healthcare careers by allowing them to earn college credit while still in high school. In turn, the program will help develop a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals prepared to care for patients throughout Northwest Georgia.

The signing marks the beginning of a collaborative effort connecting education and healthcare to create new opportunities for students, support workforce development and improve the health and well-being of the communities the organizations serve.