Ozark School District and CoxHealth partner to provide introductory health care training at the new Ozark Innovation Center

Later this month, hundreds of Ozark High School students will get a taste of what it’s like to work in health care with the launch of the health sciences academy at the new Ozark Innovation Center.

CoxHealth is proud to be a premier sponsor of the academy, which will offer high school students introductory training to health care careers. More than 200 students have already indicated interest in the program.

“CoxHealth is a regional health care leader, and the Ozark School District consistently ranks academically in the top 15 among all schools in Missouri,” says Max Buetow, CoxHealth’s President and CEO. “This partnership is the best of both worlds.”

The new Ozark Innovation Center is a large-scale extension of the main Ozark High School campus that is designed to provide high-quality education for every student’s future-readiness.

“Our vision is to be an innovative district that prepares students to use their talents for success,” says Dr. Chris Bauman, Ozark Schools Superintendent.

With the growing demand for health care staff and a rising interest in health careers, CoxHealth has invested in the center’s 30,000-square-foot health care academy.

“We want to show students that there is much more to health care than doctors and nurses,” says Andy Hedgpeth, CoxHealth’s vice president of Human Resources. “The academy will accelerate students entering the workforce, and better equip them to succeed upon arrival. This is a huge opportunity to engage with talented kids and prepare them for meaningful careers in the near future providing health care for our region.”

The academy is a cornerstone of the center, which also offers training in content areas such as agriculture, journalism and culinary arts. The center is located in the former Fasco building, located at 1600 W. Jackson St. in Ozark.

The health care academy will serve students throughout their high school careers, and in the coming years, thousands of students will have a chance to participate.

“Students will be exposed to health care careers from their freshman year forward,” Hedgpeth says. “When they graduate, they will be able to move into career-ready programs, like those at Cox College, OTC and Missouri State University.”

As part of the sponsorship, CoxHealth and its vendors equipped the center with medical equipment and technology to create a state-of-the-art simulation training environment. The health academy includes clinic exam rooms, a surgical theater, pharmacy, medical laboratory, radiology, an ambulance and more.

CoxHealth is also funding a full-time academic educator who will lead health care instruction at the academy.

“We are pleased to continue partnering with local organizations that understand and value where our students are going, and where they want to grow to become community members,” says Dr. Bauman.