FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 
April 22, 2024
CONTACT: aubrey@bhastrategy.com

Nashville, Tenn. – Today, Nurses Middle College (NursesMC) named Dr. Andrea Poynter, an assistant nursing professor at Belmont University, to lead the new nursing public high school with plans to open in Nashville in the fall of 2025.

“NursesMC schools are transformative environments for diverse and underserved communities, and are a critical partner in bringing better representation to health care,” said NursesMC Board Chair Mamie Willams. “Dr. Poynter’s career as a nurse, her academic background, and her long history of mentoring high school students into health care careers reflect what we are working to bring to Metro Nashville Public Schools through NursesMC.”

Poynter has worked as a nurse for 17 years and has served as a nursing faculty member for 10 years, with her past three years at Belmont University. Her academic research spans the health behaviors of African American women, the role of spirituality in health care, and diversity in health care. Additionally, Poynter built a successful mentorship program to expose high school students to careers in health care. 

“I am excited and humbled to lead NursesMC Nashville and bring a nursing-focused public school to MNPS,” said Poynter. “After years of mentoring high school students and coaching them to careers in health care, I believe in the tremendous power of public education in building great nurses and diversifying our workforce.”

Poynter joins the NursesMC Nashville team alongside board members Mamie Williams, Tilita Shaw, Richard Zadd, Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Shawanda Clay, and Justin Testerman. NursesMC Nashville is currently in the Metro Nashville Public School charter school authorizing process to become a 9-12 public high school. To learn more about NursesMC Nashville and support the school’s plans for Nashville, sign up here. 

Nurses Middle College Background

The NursesMC model was created in Rhode Island and its flagship school, Rhode Island Nurses Institute (RINI) Middle College has an exemplary record of preparing students for college and careers in healthcare. Students earn free college credits, on-the-job experience in health care, and a Certified Nursing Assistant credential upon graduation.