In partnership with UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio ISD is opening a new career-themed high school for students interested in the medical field.
The campus, located on the Brooks development on the city's South side, is called CAST Med. SAISD is currently taking applications for its first cohort of 150 students based in Bexar County.
The third in a series of industry-supported schools under the Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST)umbrella, the curriculum will focus on biomedical research and public health pathways for students, along with developing doctors and other traditional health care professions.
In San Antonio, one in six people are employed in the healthcare and bioscience industries, which contribute an estimated $30 to 40 billion to the local economy annually, according to 2017 data analyzed by the Chamber of Commerce.
In a fast-growing sector like health care, how can San Antonio help meet the high demand for medical research and talent? How important is equity and accessto the future of education and health in the community?
Guests:
- Eddie Rodriguez, principal of CAST Med High School
- Dr. Ron Rodriguez, chair of the urology department at the UT Health San Antonioand graduate of Jefferson High School
- Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, founder of San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinics
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This interview aired on Thursday, January 31, 2019.