EP. 126: Growing Our Own: How Early Investment Transforms Healthcare Communities

Healthcare workforce shortages won’t be solved in college; they start in high school. In this episode, Dr. Bryan Sisk, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive for Memorial Hermann Health System, discusses how the innovative HEAL High School is building a sustainable healthcare workforce by investing in students as early as ninth grade. He shares how a first-of-its-kind partnership creates a “working hospital” inside a high school, equipping students with industry-recognized certifications and real-world clinical exposure. He explains why mentorship, professional standards, and communication skills are just as critical as clinical training in preparing the next generation. He also highlights how hiring locally and removing barriers to entry can directly advance health equity and strengthen entire communities. Tune in to hear how bold thinking, strong partnerships, and early investment in young people could reshape the future of healthcare. About Dr. Bryan Sisk: Bryan Sisk, DNP, RN, NE-BC, serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive for Memorial Hermann Health System. In this role, Sisk leads the strategic direction of the organization’s nursing workforce, comprising more than 14,000 registered nurses. Dr. Sisk is a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army. He has served in various leadership roles – ranging from Chief Nurse Officer, nurse advocacy and leadership development, preventive medicine, and public health in military, government, for-profit, and not-for-profit health systems. He is a strong advocate for the nursing profession, works tirelessly to reduce barriers to health care as a career, and is passionate about creating supportive environments that accelerate personal and professional growth. He championed the newly formed Memorial Hermann Institute for Nursing Excellence that leverages frontline multidisciplinary teams to reimagine how care is delivered to all patients, now and for generations to come. In addition, Dr. Sisk is a member of the team that created the first-of-its-kind Health Education and Learning (HEAL) High School, a partnership between Aldine Independent School District, Memorial Hermann, and Bloomberg Philanthropy designed to offer robust academic programming, work-based learning, and early employment into pathways that provide a lifetime of growth with continuing education opportunities. Dr. Sisk routinely speaks on a wide range of topics and is an active mentor. He is a native Texan who loves sports, music, and outdoor activities, and lives in Houston with his wife of 35 years and their twin sons. His daughter is also a proud emergency department nurse in Central Texas. Source Links & Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Bryan Sisk on LinkedIn. Follow Memorial Hermann Health System on LinkedIn and visit their website! Learn more about HEAL High School here! Check out the 33 Scripts Guide to Address Disruptive Behaviour here! Buy Renee Thompson’s book Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility here! Grab a copy of Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! here. Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here! Have a question for Renee? Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode! Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases. Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share with your colleagues. Your support helps us reach more healthcare leaders working to create better work environments.