In this episode, Rocky Valadez, Senior Vice President of Engagement at Project Lead The Way chats with three Biomedical Science educators to learn more about how to build tomorrow’s healthcare innovators.

Today’s biomedical workforce extends far beyond traditional clinical roles like doctors and nurses. This episode explores how K–12 schools and districts can expand student awareness of biomedical career pathways, including biomedical science, biomedical engineering, laboratory sciences, health informatics, research, and technology innovation.

This episode is for district leaders, school administrators, and CTE decision-makers, and highlights how interdisciplinary learning and intentional pathway design can help schools align biomedical education with real-world workforce demands and post-secondary opportunities.

Takeaways:

• How to expand student awareness of biomedical careers beyond doctors and nurses
• Ways to integrate biomedical science with computer science, engineering, and CTE pathways
• How industry certifications, licenses, and credentials connect learning to meaningful careers
• Strategies for building biomedical pathways that start before high school
• How to leverage college credit and post-secondary partnerships to give students a head start

Host:

Rocky Valadez

SVP of Engagement

Guests:

Julye Adams – Biomedical Sciences Teacher, Scott County Public Schools

Michelle Lawrence – Medicine & Healthcare Instructor, Northland CAPS

Joe McCollum – Biomedical Science Teacher, Central Valley School District

Resources:

Students are incredible—especially when they’re given the space to create and innovate; check out this award-winning, student-led community education initiative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFhkSEWNRbQ

Two high schools implemented biomed and healthcare programs differently, both with stellar results: https://www.pltw.org/blog/how-two-high-schools-implement-pltw-biomedical-science

Middle school CTE looks like designing prosthetics, investigating medical mysteries, and making a local impact: https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prosthetics

Nursing careers take students on career journeys they never expected—these PLTW alums discovered meaningful professions: https://www.pltw.org/blog/stem-to-rn-nursing-careers

How can students get high-quality job roles right after high school? Combine place-based learning with industry certifications and nondegree credentials: https://www.pltw.org/industry-recognized-credentials?type=%22Biomedical+Science%22&search=#:~:text=PLTW%20Biomedical%20Science%20(BMS)

Biotechnology innovation is a high-value, high-demand career path—Bolarin Lawrence shares his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJP-8XOTKxE&list=PLcCTPHuIP75Lk1HB7a00OYD295-1QamJk&index=2&t=2s&pp=iAQB

In our latest PLTW Alumni Spotlight episode, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement sits down to chat with Sophia Craig, a Sophomore at Kansas State University.

Sophia shares her journey through Project Lead The Way courses in high school, how they shaped her learning and future aspirations, and how the hands-on, career-connected, and project based learning she experienced in high school is already leading her to success at the collegiate level.

This will be an excellent episode for PLTW teachers to share with their students!

Host:

Marcus Painter

Director, Social Media and Community Engagement

Guests:

Sophia Craig

PLTW Alumni, Student at Kansas State University

Recording Date:

June 4th, 2026

Resources:

• PLTW Engineering courses helped Sophia see how incorporating her own style and interests can lead to true innovation: https://www.pltw.org/curriculum/pltw-engineering#civil-engineering-and-architecture
• 2026 marked the tenth year of PLTW at Bishop Miege—hear from more of their alums about what they learned and how they use it today: https://bishopmiege.com/celebrating-a-decade-of-pltw-alumni-share-their-journeys/
• Former PLTW students can boost their proof of readiness by adding a badge to their LinkedIn profile: https://www.pltw.org/blog/showcase-your-pltw-skills-on-linkedin-with-new-profile-badges
• Combining STEM and art expands creativity, engagement, and confidence among students—here’s the approach one school took: https://www.pltw.org/blog/engineering-design-and-development-edd-students-collaborate-with-art-class-peers
• Regional ecosystems like KC STEM Alliance are catalysts for local innovation and economic growth; here’s how: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/KCSTEMAlliance_CaseStudy.pdf

In this episode of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast, Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media and Community Engagement chats with Tory Spanier and Seth Ponder about teachers can best Sail into the summer! All teachers will have actionable takeaways from this episode! Sail into summer with a little help from a couple of the best teachers we know!

Host:

Marcus Painter, Director of Social Media & Community Engagement at Project Lead The Way

Guests:

Tory Spanier, PLTW Master Teacher from Delano High School, in Delano Minnesota.

Seth Ponder, Computer Science and Engineering teacher at Riley High School, in South Bend, Indiana.

Recording Date:

May 7, 2026

Resources:

• Middle school teachers bring high-impact, meaningful explorations of biomedical engineering through the Design and Modeling unit from PLTW Gateway: https://www.pltw.org/blog/middle-school-stem-prosthetics
• Riley High School students and educators share the “why” behind their passion for project-based learning and PLTW: https://wsbt.com/news/local/stem-education-hands-on-project-problem-based-high-school-south-bend-riley-national-recognition-innovation-career
• How Tory Spanier took risks and build a network of support, exemplifying perseverance and curiosity to his students: https://youtu.be/svO1gDuBN6k?t=237
• Explore an educator’s journey from PLTW student to Master Teacher: https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-pltw-student-to-master-teacher
• What’s different about instructor-led, collaborative professional learning? Hear about it from teachers who’ve attended: https://www.pltw.org/blog/pltw-teachers-find-real-world-lessons-and-year-long-advice-during-pltw-core-training
• When students don’t see the difference between learning for the future and learning to pass the test, here’s what happens: https://www.pltw.org/blog/connecting-the-classroom-to-your-community

Connect on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RileyEngineeringMagnet

Instagram: @rileyhighpltw