Goodwill Middle Tennessee Partners with Nashville State to Offer New Healthcare Training Programs

Goodwill Middle Tennessee, in partnership with Nashville State Community College, today announced the launch of two new healthcare-focused job training programs, providing critical experience and education for Tennesseans eager to tap into the region’s growing healthcare industry. Two programs will be offered to Goodwill clients: Patient Care Technician and Medical Assistant, each providing clients with a direct path to steady, purposeful and enriching careers in healthcare.

The three-week Patient Care Technician program onboarded its inaugural cohort of 12 students this morning, and the Medical Assistant program is scheduled to follow in the first quarter of 2027 with 12 additional trainees. The programs take place at Goodwill’s new 100,000 sqft Opportunity Center in MetroCenter, featuring a state-of-the-art clinical training laboratory and dedicated classroom space. Nashville State is providing the curriculum framework and instruction, while Goodwill will own the facility and all necessary equipment.

“These new programs are a direct response to an increasing workforce gap in the healthcare industry,” said David Meadows, Vice President of Mission Advancement. “There are tremendous career opportunities in the healthcare sector but not enough skilled workers to fill job openings. Together with Nashville State Community College, we aim to provide immediate solutions for employers while also opening the door to strong careers in healthcare for our clients.”

To provide hands-on clinical experience, the newly constructed lab at the Opportunity Center mimics a realistic hospital setting. The facility features hospital beds, exam tables, mannequins and an ECG machine, giving clients the necessary hands-on experience needed to thrive in future careers.

Nashville State Community College's Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education has partnered with healthcare providers across Middle Tennessee to train hundreds of incumbent and aspiring healthcare professionals in high-demand allied health specialties. Building on this success, the Medical Assistant (MA) and Patient Care Technician (PCT) program with Goodwill provides a structured pathway for individuals seeking to enter or advance within the healthcare workforce.

This student-centered program is designed for individuals with no prior healthcare experience and aligns with industry-recognized standards. Through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and hands-on training, students develop foundational knowledge in healthcare delivery, patient care, safety and infection prevention, healthcare technology, communication, professionalism, and regulatory compliance. The curriculum emphasizes both clinical and administrative competencies, preparing participants to serve effectively as members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams while supporting high-quality, patient-centered care across a variety of care settings.

“Goodwill Middle Tennessee and Nashville State are mission-aligned in providing opportunities to connect students and employers through high-quality, innovative educational experiences,” said Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, president of Nashville State Community College. “Through this workforce solution partnership, we are providing high-demand career opportunities to local residents while delivering a skilled workforce that our healthcare employers urgently need.”

To maintain the curriculum's relevance to the job market, Goodwill is also forming a Healthcare Industry Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from Ascension Saint Thomas, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA, TriStar, Metro Health, Nashville State Community College and more. Committee members will meet quarterly to maintain the program’s focus and specific direction to fill important gaps within the healthcare industry.

Participants in the new healthcare training programs are Goodwill clients who pursued assistance via the organization’s Career Navigator services. It’s the latest of several high-quality vocational training programs and career support services Goodwill offers its clients across Middle Tennessee, made possible through the sale of donated goods in area Goodwill retail stores. To learn more about Goodwill’s Career Navigators and offerings, please visit www.giveit2goodwill.org/careersolutions/ or call (615) 742-4151.

About Goodwill Middle Tennessee

For more than 60 years, Goodwill Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. Goodwill’s vision is that all people will have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential through the power of work. More information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores and donation centers can be found online at www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1-800-545-9231.

About Nashville State Community College

Opened in 1970, Nashville State Community College continues to move forward in meeting the needs of our diverse community of learners. As a student-ready college, it places an emphasis on completion and post-completion success, along with serving a growing English as a Second Language (ESL) population and being a workforce solution partner to local industries and non-profits. With seven campuses and online programming, Nashville State offers 23 associate degree programs, 32 technical certificate programs and 47 transfer programs, including accounting, business management, paralegal studies, nursing, aerospace technology, music, audio engineering, visual communications, information technology, civil engineering, the natural sciences, and culinary arts.