Our state’s healthcare system is facing a crisis. With over 40,000 open healthcare positions today—and projections of a staggering 100,000-job shortfall by 2030—Georgia is struggling to build a workforce that can meet the needs of its growing and aging population.
At the same time, Atlanta’s students need more accessible pathways to careers that offer economic mobility and stability.
The Academy for Innovation in Medicine (AIM), a new tuition-free public charter school proposing to launch in 2026, is set to meet both challenges.
A First-of-Its-Kind Solution
AIM will be Georgia’s first dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) middle and high school, offering students a direct path into high-demand healthcare careers. Through a groundbreaking partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine and Grady Health System, AIM will provide a curriculum that blends rigorous academic coursework, dual enrollment college credits, and immersive work-based learning.
This model ensures students graduate not just with a high school diploma but with industry-recognized career credentials and an associate degree—without any financial burden on their families. By integrating education with hands-on experience, AIM will redefine what it means to be college- and career-ready.
Tackling Georgia’s Healthcare Workforce Shortage
The state’s healthcare crisis is rooted in both a lack of skilled professionals and deep systemic challenges. Nearly 90% of Georgia’s counties are designated as healthcare professional shortage areas, and hospitals across the state are struggling to fill essential roles. The impact is felt most acutely in particular communities, where limited access to healthcare services compounds existing disparities in health outcomes.
AIM is designed to be part of the solution. By equipping students with the skills, certifications, and real-world experience necessary to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, the school is creating a pipeline of trained professionals who are ready to step into critical roles in Atlanta’s hospitals, clinics, and research labs. This isn’t just an investment in education—it’s an investment in the city’s health and future economic stability.
Creating Economic Opportunity
For many students, the traditional four-year college pathway isn’t financially viable. AIM ensures that young people have multiple options: they can pursue a bachelor’s degree in medicine or science, or they can enter the workforce immediately in careers that offer stability and upward mobility. Paramedics, health information managers, and practical nurses—all of which are core pathways at AIM—have average starting salaries exceeding $50,000 in metro Atlanta. Within a year of graduation, AIM expects 80% of its students to be earning a living wage.
Through direct partnerships with leading healthcare institutions, AIM ensures that its students will have the mentorship, training, and job placement support needed to succeed.
A Model for the Future
AIM represents more than just a new school—it’s a new vision for how education and workforce development can intersect to drive real change. It’s a model that redefinED atlanta is proud to support, reflecting our belief that every student in every community deserves access to high-quality, career-connected learning opportunities.
We are building a future where students don’t just graduate—they graduate with purpose, with opportunity, and with a direct path to success. AIM is leading the way.
For more information on AIM, contact AIM’s Lead Founder, Kristy Beam.
