Home News RICHLAND TWO AND PROVIDENCE HEALTH FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

RICHLAND TWO AND PROVIDENCE HEALTH FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

6/3/2021

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Yesterday, Richland School District Two and Providence Health signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will allow students in four schools to enhance their discovery and knowledge about healthcare careers. The schools in the MOA are Bridge Creek Elementary Medical, Engineering and Discovery (MED) through Arts School; Rice Creek Elementary School of Academics, Innovation and Leadership (SAiL); Kelly Mill Med Pro Middle School; and Arts Innovation for Medical Sciences (AiMS) at Ridge View High School.

The partnerships will give students access to healthcare professionals, subject matter experts for enrichment, mentorship and acceleration programs, field trips for elementary grades, and shadowing experiences for high school. Students will also have support programs and initiatives that reinforce their universal obligation of citizenship and the pursuit of Richland Two’s vision to provide premier educational opportunities for healthcare career exploration.

Jill Anelli, Vice President of Human Resources for Providence Health says the hospital has been in the Columbia community since 1938 and they are excited to watch students explore healthcare careers and become the next generation of caregivers. “We are a community-based health system and one way to make the community healthier is by partnering with students to help them find their career path.” Anelli added, “Richland Two is a premier school district that operates in excellence and we are honored to open our doors and subject matter experts to the young minds in the Northeast Midlands market.”

For several years, Providence Health has proven to be a valuable community partner for Richland Two. District Superintendent Dr. Baron R. Davis says Providence Health has helped students with developmental disabilities learn valuable job skills through Project Search, and they were a partner in providing a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for employees earlier this year. “We are excited to expand this partnership with our new initiative which will engage students who are part of the Med Pro magnet schools from kindergarten through high school,” said Dr. Davis.

MED at Bridge Creek Elementary focuses on the relationship between medicine, engineering and arts. Rice Creek Elementary SAiL focuses on sports medicine and the innovations that help to take care of our active bodies. Kelly Mill Med Pro Middle focuses on the preparation for college and careers by gaining a strong foundation in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) skills, understanding how content integrates authentically, and seeing how content comes to life in careers that may be available to them in their future. Ridge View AiMS is the final step of the K-12 continuum, where students get to experience hands-on application of the letters STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Medical) to help narrow down their chosen pathway and the necessary steps they must take to gain success in their future.

These four schools began implementing Med Pro 21: Healthcare for a Caring Community, a Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant in 2017. This new partnership with Providence Health will provide each school with more unique theme based learning opportunities for all students.