Murray City School District (MCSD) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $13 million Catalyst Center Grant by the Utah State Board of Education. The grant will fund the construction and operation of a state-of-the-art Healthcare Academy Catalyst Center (now called APEX Center - Applied Professional Education Experience) on the Murray High School campus, designed to bridge the gap between secondary education and the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.

Developed in a powerful partnership with Intermountain Health, Salt Lake Tech (Salt Lake Community College), and Talent Ready Utah, the Academy will provide students with credentialed, hands-on experience just steps away from Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health’s Level I Trauma Center and Utah’s largest hospital, which is in Murray.

Innovative Programming and National Firsts

The Healthcare Academy will initially focus on three high-demand disciplines:

1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): A foundational pillar of patient care.
2. Radiology Technician Assistant: The first program of its kind in the nation offered to high school students.
3. Behavioral Health Assistant: Among the first in Utah and the nation to be offered at the secondary level.

"This grant is a visionary investment in our students and the future of Utah’s workforce," said Jennifer Covington, MCSD Superintendent. "By placing this facility on our campus, we are moving beyond traditional medical instruction to provide a direct, physical bridge to a career. We are deeply grateful to the State Board and our partners for recognizing the potential of our students to lead in these critical fields."

A Controlled Environment for Real-World Mastery

The facility will be a 11,500-square-foot, one-story building featuring four specialized classrooms and four advanced labs. Construction is slated to begin later this year, with an anticipated opening in Fall 2027.

Beyond high school, the program includes "vertical" exposure, introducing elementary and middle school students to healthcare career pathways early in their educational journey. Once enrolled, high school students will be guided by mentors from Intermountain Health. These are medical professionals who will work with students to graduate with certifications, college credits, and a clear trajectory toward professional development or higher education.

The Critical Need: Data & Impact

The Academy’s focus areas address a structural shortage in Utah’s healthcare workforce:

• Behavioral Health: According to the Utah Behavioral Health Commission (2025), Utah is implementing a five-year strategic plan to address acute gaps in mental health services. Demand for behavioral health technicians is projected to grow 17% through 2034, far outstripping the current supply of skilled workers.
• Radiology: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) reports that an aging population and advancements in imaging technology have created a "future-proof" demand for radiologic professionals, with 15,400 annual openings expected nationally.
• CNA and Nursing Shortages: According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services (2025-2026 Occupational Projections), the demand for Nursing Assistants in Utah is projected to grow by 27% through 2032, a rate nearly ten times faster than the national average. This is driven by Utah’s "Silver Tsunami"—a rapidly aging demographic that requires a massive influx of direct-care professionals. Currently, Utah ranks among the states with the most acute nursing shortages, with only 1.38 nurses per 100 people, making the CNA "gateway" a vital entry point to stabilize the state's entire healthcare pipeline.
• CTE Success: Research from EdResearch for Action (2025) indicates that students in "Healthcare Career Academies" are 21% more likely to enroll in college immediately after high school and see significantly higher lifetime earnings compared to non-CTE peers.

How Gateway Opportunities Lead to Advanced Careers

Murray’s Healthcare Academy serves as a comprehensive 'launchpad' strategy for professional growth. Research from Nightingale College (2026) and NCSL indicates that:

• Reduced Attrition: Students who enter healthcare via a high school CNA or Assistant program have a 30% higher retention rate in nursing school than those who enter without prior clinical exposure.
• Stackable Credentials: By partnering with Salt Lake Tech, Murray students earn more than a certificate; they secure 'stackable' credits. This means a student can work as a CNA at Intermountain Health while their employer pays for their RN or radiology degree—a model that the Utah Behavioral Health Commission has identified as the primary solution to Utah's workforce "churn."

Partner Perspectives

"The Healthcare Academy represents a permanent talent pipeline. By offering a Radiology Technician Assistant program at the high school level—a national first—we are proving that Murray students are ready to meet the challenges of 21st-century medicine." — Chantel Olsen, MCSD CTE Program Coordinator

"By uniting the academic excellence of Murray City School District and the Salt Lake Community College, with the clinical expertise of medical professionals from Intermountain Health, we are doing more than launching a program—we are building a bridge between the classroom and the clinic. Together, the APEX Center will empower the next generation of healthcare leaders to turn their passion into practice and their potential into a healthier future for our entire community." — Scott Wihongi, MCSD Assistant Superintendent/CTE Director

"Intermountain Medical Center and Intermountain Health are honored to partner with Murray City School District. By mentoring these students across the street from Intermountain Medical Center, we are helping them transition from the classroom to the bedside in a way that is safe, supportive, and professionally transformative." — Ralph Jean-Mary, President of Intermountain Health’s Salt Lake Market and CEO of Intermountain Medical Center

"This collaboration represents the gold standard of what the Catalyst Grant was intended to achieve. Talent Ready Utah is thrilled to support a program that so precisely aligns student education with the actual labor market needs of our state." — Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner for Talent Ready Utah

"Through our partnership, students gain far more than experience—they earn industry-recognized credentials and credits that stack directly into Salt Lake Community College programs, accelerating their path to a degree." — Jason Wood, Vice President, Salt Lake Technical College