by Jaron VonRunnen
The Paducah Sun
February 3, 2026
Used with permission.
PADUCAH — Baptist Health Paducah and the Paducah Innovation Hub are partnering to introduce high school students to careers in healthcare through a new event, Building Futures in Healthcare, on Thursday, Feb. 5.
The event, scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Paducah Innovation Hub, will give students and parents an inside look at the hospital’s Clinical Career Development Program and the many career paths available in the region’s healthcare sector.
Juniors and seniors from St. Mary High School, Community Christian Academy, Paducah Tilghman High School, and homeschool students enrolled in the Innovation Hub’s health science programs are invited to attend. A news release from Baptist Health Paducah said the goal is to connect students with real-world opportunities and help them understand the education and training required for in-demand medical careers.
The CCDP is a workforce development initiative that creates a direct pathway for Innovation Hub graduates to gain hands-on experience at Baptist Health Paducah while pursuing degrees at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Madisonville Community College, or Murray State University. Participants receive professional development, mentorship, and paid healthcare experience as they work toward careers in nursing, surgical technology, radiography, sonography, respiratory care, and medical laboratory science.
According to organizers, the program is designed to expand access to healthcare careers and strengthen the local workforce by offering structured support for students pursuing health sciences.
The Paducah Innovation Hub is located at 500 S 25th Street, Paducah, KY 42003.