Alice Walton announces partnerships to expand healthcare workforce
Alice Walton announced Tuesday (Dec. 9) that her foundation and the Heartland Whole Health Institute would partner with Bentonville Public Schools to expand the Ignite Professional Studies program on the Bentonville Health Care Campus.
The campus, slated for completion in 2028, will be located on a 100-acre site approximately two miles east of downtown Bentonville.
It is a partnership between Walton’s foundation and Mercy to expand access to health care, improve health outcomes, and access to specialty care in Northwest Arkansas. The Cleveland Clinic will collaborate on specialty health protocols for cardiovascular systems. The campus also will include a Center for Advanced Specialty Care. The release said the future expansion of the Ignite program will be part of a phase two development following the 2028 center opening.
Tuesday’s announcement also included plans for eight regional school districts to participate in the new campus with programs in health sciences, technology, global business, and engineering. The new partnership between Walton’s health care interests and the school districts is an effort to support existing workforce developments and create a pipeline for future health care professionals.
Bentonville School’s Ignite Program provides students in grades 11 and 12 to gain work-based learning experience, industry credentials, and classroom instruction in several career areas. In the health sciences sector, students have access to hands-on learning labs, mentorships with clinicians and wellness providers, and connect classroom learning to community health.
“The innovative Ignite program puts students in real workplaces with mentors, where they earn industry credentials, build confidence, and learn how to care for people,” said Walton, founder of the Alice L. Walton Foundation and the Heartland Whole Health Institute. “Through planning to expand the program to the Bentonville Health Care Campus, we can offer a unique opportunity for Ignite students to learn on a world-class health care campus. Ultimately, the program expansion could help strengthen the health and well-being of our region and serve as a model for how communities can increase access to health care education.”
School districts planning to participate in the planned Ignite expansion are Decatur Public Schools, Fayetteville Public Schools, Gentry Public Schools, Gravette Public Schools, Pea Ridge Public Schools, Rogers Public Schools, Siloam Springs Public Schools, and Springdale Public Schools.
“This first-of-its-kind collaboration would be a tremendous opportunity for our students and Northwest Arkansas,” said Dr. Debbie Jones, superintendent of Bentonville Schools. “Through planning with the Foundation and Institute, as well as working with neighboring districts, we’re reinforcing our shared commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for every student.”
Heartland Whole Health Institute collaborated with the school districts to identify the expansion opportunity and will help develop partnership plans. Dr. Sarah Bemis, associate vice president of workforce and policy at the institute, said an expansion will expose more students to health care career opportunities and help fill the crucial health care workforce gaps in our region. Enrollment capacity could potentially double.
The Ignite Professional Studies program provides students with learning and professional networking opportunities in 10 career options. Students may earn high school and college credit, and industry credentials. Classroom expansion is necessary to provide additional Bentonville and regional students with the opportunity to participate, according to the press release, with approximately 60% of student applicants are accepted due to limited capacity.
Ignite’s health sciences career option, the most requested program, allows students to earn credentials for medical and medical-adjacent occupations such as emergency medical tech, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomy tech, pharmacy tech, electrocardiogram, registered medical assistant, physical therapy tech, mental health first aid, human nutrition, data science certificate, biomanufacturing and registered behavior technician. Career pathways also include pre-nursing, emergency medicine, integrative and public health, maternal health, biotech, and behavioral health.
“Expanding the Ignite Health Sciences strand means much more than just classroom instruction – it’s about giving students real-world experience and advanced training through strategic and thoughtful partnerships,” said Jessica Imel, director of Ignite. “These programs ensure graduates enter the field with the skills and confidence to make an immediate impact.”