ORLANDO, FL — September 2026 – The Nurses Magazine® (TNM) is proud to announce that approximately 300 students from Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) will participate in the TNM K–12 Nursing & Healthcare Career Initiative during The Nurses Magazine Symposium & Awards, taking place October 22–24, 2026, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

300 Orange County Public Schools Students to Explore Nursing and Healthcare Careers at The Nurses Magazine® Symposium & Awards

The initiative significantly expands TNM’s mission to engage the next generation in conversations about the future of nursing, healthcare, education, leadership, and workforce development.

For these students, the experience will be more than a field trip.

It will be an opportunity to imagine their futures.

Approximately 300 K–12 students from Orange County Public Schools are expected to join nurses, healthcare professionals, educators, nursing and healthcare leaders, colleges, universities, healthcare organizations, and community partners at The Nurses Magazine® Symposium & Awards.

Students will participate in the TNM K–12 Nursing & Healthcare Career Initiative, an educational and career exploration experience designed to introduce young people to the wide range of opportunities available throughout the healthcare field.

Students will have the opportunity to explore careers in:

• Nursing
• Allied health
• Healthcare technology
• Research
• Education
• Healthcare leadership
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Other emerging healthcare professions

Students will gain insight into the education, skills, and pathways that can lead to meaningful careers in healthcare through direct engagement with healthcare professionals, educators, and leaders.

The goal is simple but powerful:

Help students recognize opportunities before they must decide their futures.

The Nurses Magazine® Symposium & Awards
October 22–24, 2026

K–12 career exploration programming will take place throughout the symposium, including dedicated student programming on Friday and Saturday.

Rosen Plaza Hotel
9700 International Dr.
Orlando, Florida

The foundation of America’s future healthcare workforce is laid long before students apply to nursing school, medical school, or other healthcare education programs.

It begins with exposure.

It begins when young people meet professionals who look like them, hear stories about careers they may never have considered, and discover opportunities they did not know existed.

The TNM K–12 Nursing & Healthcare Career Initiative aims to introduce students to healthcare careers earlier, connect education with real-world opportunities, and inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to envision themselves as future healthcare professionals.

For TNM Founder and President Dr. Donel J. Richemond, the initiative holds deep personal significance.

Before becoming a nurse, healthcare leader, entrepreneur, and higher education administrator, Dr. Richemond taught K–12.

That experience continues to shape his belief that career exposure should begin early.

“Before becoming a nurse and healthcare leader, I taught K–12 students. I remember standing before a classroom, looking into the eyes of young people who were still discovering who they might become. That moment has stayed with me ever since.”

Dr. Richemond continued:

“For me, this initiative is about more than 300 students attending an event. It’s about 300 dreams, 300 futures, and 300 opportunities to plant a seed that could transform a life. Sometimes, a student’s future shifts simply because someone introduces them to a possibility they never knew existed.”

He added:

“Some students may eventually become nurses, while others may pursue careers as physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, researchers, healthcare leaders, educators, or innovators. These future professionals could be the ones caring for our families and communities someday. If we want to address future healthcare workforce challenges, inspiration needs to begin earlier, long before college.”

The initiative is a collaborative effort with Orange County Public Schools, bringing together education, career exploration, and healthcare workforce development as part of one of TNM’s signature programs.

The Nurses Magazine® invites hospitals, healthcare systems, colleges, universities, nursing schools, corporations, foundations, professional associations, and community leaders to support the initiative and help create meaningful experiences for participating students.

Organizations can participate by:

• Sponsoring the initiative
• Hosting career exploration activities
• Providing speakers and subject-matter experts
• Offering mentorship opportunities
• Providing educational resources
• Creating hands-on learning experiences
• Connecting students with healthcare career pathways

TNM is challenging healthcare and community organizations to answer one question:

Dr. Richemond emphasized that supporting this initiative is about more than sponsoring a symposium.

It is about investing in the young people who could become the next generation of nurses, physicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, leaders, and innovators.

Investing in students today helps build a stronger healthcare workforce for tomorrow.

TNM is also launching #Inspire300, encouraging nurses, healthcare professionals, educators, and leaders to share the initiative and tell young people why they chose careers in healthcare.

One story could inspire a student.
One conversation could open a door.
One introduction could change a future.

The Nurses Magazine® (TNM) is a national and international media platform dedicated to elevating nurses’ voices, visibility, leadership, and impact across the healthcare continuum.

TNM showcases the people, organizations, and ideas shaping the future of nursing and healthcare through journalism, storytelling, thought leadership, professional recognition, education, conferences, strategic partnerships, and workforce initiatives.

The Nurses Magazine® honors nursing excellence, fosters future leaders, promotes education, strengthens the healthcare workforce, and creates platforms that connect nurses and healthcare leaders locally, nationally, and globally.