Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Andrea Poynter.
Hi Dr. Andrea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into healthcare and education has never been a straight line. I grew up in a working class family where resilience wasn’t something we talked about, it was simply how we survived. My mother worked in factories for most of her life, and my father was an AME minister, military veteran, and educator who believed deeply in service and education. When I was 16 years old, my father passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack, and that loss changed the trajectory of my life.
I entered healthcare because I wanted purpose, stability, and an opportunity to help people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. I spent years working as a nurse in critical care, emergency medicine, med-surg, and as a clinical nurse educator over those areas while eventually transitioning into higher education as a nursing instructor and professor. Over time, I realized there was a major gap in the healthcare workforce pipeline, especially for students who had the passion and ability to succeed but lacked exposure, access, or support.
That realization ultimately aligned with the mission and vision of my board of directors who were working to open a healthcare and nursing focused high school. In 2024, we were successfully able to open Nurses Middle College Nashville. We opened our doors to the first inaugural class Fall 2025 as Tennessee’s first healthcare-focused public charter high school designed to prepare students for careers in nursing and allied health while still in high school. Today, I serve as Executive Director, and every decision we make is centered around creating opportunities that many students never knew existed for them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
Starting a school from the ground up is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done professionally and personally. There are constant challenges – funding, facilities, staffing, politics, systems, compliance, and the pressure of knowing families are trusting you with their children’s futures.
There were moments when we had to build while simultaneously convincing people that the vision was possible. Healthcare high schools are still relatively new nationally, and combining nursing pathways, workforce development, and rigorous academics into one model required people to think differently about what high school could look like.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing innovation with sustainability. We are building something ambitious while ensuring students receive strong academic instruction, emotional support, and real healthcare exposure. At times, that has required long hours, making difficult decisions, and learning in real time.
But honestly, the struggles have also reinforced why this work matters. When you see students who never thought college or healthcare was possible begin talking about becoming nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, or healthcare leaders, it reminds you that the work is bigger than the obstacles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Nurses Middle College Nashville is a public charter high school focused on nursing and healthcare career pathways. Our mission is to prepare students, regardless of barriers or background, to become highly educated and professional members of the healthcare workforce.
We combine traditional academics with healthcare exposure, certifications, dual enrollment opportunities, workforce partnerships, and hands-on experiences that allow students to see themselves in healthcare careers early. Students are not just learning about healthcare from a textbook; they are interacting with healthcare professionals, participating in simulations, exploring specialties, and building professional identity while still in high school.
We are also intentionally focused on workforce needs in Nashville and Tennessee. The healthcare shortage is real, and we believe schools can play a major role in building stronger pipelines into nursing and allied health careers.
What sets us apart is that we are not simply a school with a healthcare theme; healthcare is embedded into the culture, structure, and long-term vision of the school.
We are building vertically aligned pathways that allow students to move from exposure to certification to career readiness. Students can earn industry certifications, participate in dual enrollment, and eventually pursue pathways like CNA, Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting, EMT, and other allied health careers.
Another thing that makes us different is our focus on access and belonging. Many of our students are first-generation college students or come from communities historically underrepresented in healthcare professions. We want students to walk into hospitals, clinics, universities, and healthcare spaces believing they belong there.
We also believe healthcare education should start earlier. Our long-term vision includes creating a full pipeline beginning with elementary and middle school exposure programs that help students discover healthcare careers long before graduation.
I’m most proud that the vision became real.
There were many moments when this school existed only as an idea, a presentation, or a conversation about what Nashville needed. To now see students walking the halls wearing scrubs, talking about healthcare careers, interviewing for nursing pathways, and believing in futures they may not have imagined before, that’s incredibly meaningful.
I’m also proud of the partnerships we’ve built across Nashville. Hospitals, colleges, universities, healthcare organizations, and community leaders have stepped forward because they believe in what we’re trying to create for students and for the future workforce of this city.
Most importantly, I’m proud of our students. Many of them have overcome significant barriers, and they continue to show resilience, compassion, and determination every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nursesmcnashville.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nursesmcnashville/
