From the Class to the Clinic: AHS prepares students for healthcare careers

As a senior at Arlington High, Haydyn Stites walked into her clinical rotation at the local animal clinic expecting a typical day. Maybe she would assist with routine checkups or maybe even help the veterinary with vaccinations. What she didn’t expect was to actually assist the vet with performing a leg amputation on a cat.

But it was a lesson learned quickly: you never know what might walk through the doors of a healthcare clinic.

For Haydyn, a Class of 2023 graduate, it was one of moments her senior year she realized healthcare wasn’t just something she wanted to study - it was something she wanted to live. “My clinical internship was a game-changer in confirming my passion for nursing and shaping my future in healthcare," she told us. "It made it clear in high school that this was the career I wanted to dedicate myself to.” 

Over the course of her internship, Haydyn traveled between several types of clinics, each stop sharpening her skills and revealing more about where her future could lead.

And she’s just one example. Alaina Owens (Class of 2024) now serves as a school nurse for underfunded Knoxville-area schools through the Clinic Vols program. Sarah Khmous (Class of 2024) works full time as a Certified Medical Assistant at RedMed Arlington while pursuing her BSN. Kenadie Jennings (Class of 2025) assisted in tumor removal surgeries at a veterinary clinic during her time at AHS, giving her a clear picture of what her future career as a surgeon will look like.

Their experiences are proof that in Arlington, high school students aren’t just imagining healthcare careers...they’re already living them.

Rotations that shape futures

Launched in 2022, the Arlington High Clinical Internship Program is a capstone work-based learning course designed to give students meaningful exposure to healthcare professions. Each year, 15 students are selected through a competitive process that mirrors real-world hiring, complete with teacher recommendations, essays and professional interview panels.

Once accepted, interns commit to more than five hours of clinical rotations each week, while also earning industry certifications in CPR/BLS and OSHA 10. The program has quickly become one of the most sought-after opportunities at AHS, drawing up to 30 applicants annually for just 15 seats.

For teacher Kaitlyn Scherffius, who helped launch the program, the most rewarding part is watching students discover — or rule out — career paths. “I’ve had kids who didn’t know anything about physical therapy, and after that rotation they said, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ Others went to the pediatric clinic and realized, ‘This isn’t for me.’ For them to know that already - in high school before even stepping foot into college - is the kind of experience you can't put a price on."

The success of the Clinical Internship Program lies in its deep community connections. Nearly a dozen healthcare partners welcome students into their practices each year. These clinics include RedMed Arlington, Arlington Animal Clinic, Memphis Physical Therapy, Arlington Physical Therapy, The Pediatric Clinic, Vescovo Family Denistry, Purple Flower Health and Dynamix Physical Therapy.

ACS has also gone a step further by opening its own doors. Nurses at Donelson Elementary and Arlington Elementary now serve as clinical sites, giving students a chance to shadow school healthcare providers. This move reinforces ACS’s commitment to leading by example and shows partners that the district is equally invested in student opportunities.

These relationships extend far beyond the internship itself. Many healthcare providers directly recruit AHS interns for summer jobs and part-time work, trusting the preparation they’ve received through the program.

“They’ve loved it," Scherffius said about the reaction from local healthcare partners. "They've seen the benefit so much to the point of texting me, ‘Do you have any kids who want to work this summer?’ That relationship and trust mean so much, because it shows how valuable our students have become to them.”

The results speak for themselves:

• 100% pass rate for industry certifications.

• Alumni excelling in college healthcare programs and entering the workforce with confidence.

• Students reporting that college labs and exams feel easier thanks to their internship preparation.

For Scherffius, that feedback is the ultimate reward. “Kids reach out all the time saying, ‘I just aced my lab because it was exactly like what we did in school.’ That just goes to show the work we’re doing is paying off.”

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Rooted in the ACS Strategic Plan

The Clinical Internship Program is more than hands-on experience. It’s a living example of the Portrait of an ACS Graduate. Students leave AHS not just with certifications, but with life skills:

• Communicate Effectively with patients and professionals.

• Collaborate Intentionally on healthcare teams.

• Cultivate Creativity while problem-solving in fast-paced environments.

• Be Resilient by balancing coursework with clinical hours.

• Lead with Empathy while caring for patients of all ages (and even pets too).

The program continues to grow each year, offering AHS students the chance to step into the clinic today — and shape the future of healthcare tomorrow.

For Ryleigh Bell, a 2025 graduate, the internship meant rolling up her sleeves and stepping fully into the world she hopes to call her career. At one rotation, she stood beside veterinarians during a tumor removal surgery on a dog. At another, she found herself at Purple Flower Health, where she says she felt most at home.

“I got to do the most hands-on work there — staying busy, helping with almost everything," Bell said. "Each site gave me a real look at what it’s truly like to work in healthcare, and it made me even more excited to continue nursing in college.” 

Her words echo those of so many students who have passed through the program. These aren’t just internships - they’re stories in the making. Stories of teenagers discovering the careers, the passions and the futures that await them.

Meet this year’s Clinical Internship group:

1. Grayson Currie

2. Ryne Green

3. Cooper Hawkins

4. Kaitlyn Heller

5. Ellie Hopper

6. Emily Ikerd

7. Jenny Le

8. Kaylee Lowe

9. Elizabeth Pearson

10. Natalie Sanchez

11. Peyton Smith

12. Samantha Smith

13. Macie Turner

14. Jane Watkins

15. Peyton Watkins-Sprague