NEWS RELEASE – May 27, 2026
ARH Partners with Buckhorn School to Launch the ARH ACCESS Project
Hazard, KY – Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is proud to announce a new partnership with Buckhorn School in the Perry County School District to launch the ARH ACCESS Project (Advancing Careers through Collaborative Experiences & Student Support). This innovative initiative aims to build a strong Appalachian workforce for the future by increasing awareness of different career paths available in healthcare and other fields across Central Appalachia.
In Central Appalachia, many students encounter the misconception that their future success hinges on leaving their home communities to pursue higher education and career opportunities. This belief undermines the potential of our local workforce and risks draining our region of its talent and resources. The ARH ACCESS Project is designed to address this critical issue by engaging K-12 students in authentic, hands-on experiences and showcasing the wide range of opportunities within our region.
“We are excited to partner with Buckhorn School to launch the ARH ACCESS Project,” said Dylon Baker, AVP of Workforce Initiatives. “By providing students with the resources, knowledge, and confidence to envision their future careers without feeling the need to leave the area, we hope to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and community leaders.”
The project was piloted at Buckhorn School in the Fall, with a full launch planned for Fall 2026, where we will expand to other K-12 schools throughout the region. The initiative will include various components tailored to different grade levels, such as coloring books and storybooks for K-3 students; engaging videos and hands-on activities for grades 4-5; fairs and guided tours for grades 6-8; and shadowing experiences and internships for high school students. The goal is to bridge the gap between education and employment, empowering students to recognize that they can thrive professionally while remaining in the heart of Appalachia.
“We are thrilled to be the first school to pilot the ARH ACCESS Project,” said Mildred Blank, Assistant Principal. “Partnering with ARH on the K-12 Access Project has brought incredible value to our school. The opportunities they’ve introduced make our students feel like there’s a place for everyone in healthcare.”
The ARH ACCESS Project is not just about career awareness; it’s about building a strong, sustainable workforce that honors our community’s unique values and aspirations. Together, we can cultivate a sense of pride in local opportunities and inspire students to contribute to the bright future of Appalachia.
For more information about the ARH ACCESS Project, please contact Tesa Turner, ARH System Manager of Workforce Development at tturner2@arh.org
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.