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Broadening Biomedical Career Pathways for Students: More Than Medicine
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
Presented by Michelle Lawrence, Medicine and Healthcare Instructor, Northland CAPS, North Kansas City School District (MO); Dr. Julye Adams, Biomedical Sciences Teacher, Elkhorn Crossing School, Scott County Schools (KY); and Joe McCollum, Biomedical Science Teacher, Ridgeline High School, Central Valley School District (WA)
Moderated by Rocky Valadez, Senior Vice President of Engagement, Project Lead The Way
Sponsored by Project Lead The Way
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When students think about medical careers, “nurse” or “doctor” is often at the top of the list. But today’s biomedical landscape is far more expansive, spanning fields like biomedical engineering, laboratory sciences, data and health informatics, research, and technology innovation.
This edLeader Panel explores how K–12 schools can spark student interest in the full spectrum of biomedical careers through interdisciplinary learning, authentic experiences, and strategic pathway design. We dive into practical strategies for:
- Expanding student awareness of biomedical careers beyond traditional clinical roles
- Integrating biomedical science with computer science and engineering and other Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways to reflect real-world innovation
- Leveraging professional industry certification and licenses as well as other assets to connect learning to meaningful opportunities
- Building pathways that start before high school, sustaining student engagement across grade levels
- Highlighting college credit and postsecondary opportunities that give students a strong head start
By the end of this session, viewers are able to:
- Identify a range of biomedical career pathways beyond nursing and clinical roles that are relevant to K–12 students and design and adapt strategies to engage students in these pathways
- Explain how integrating biomedical science with computer science and engineering strengthens student learning and career readiness
- Build and strengthen postsecondary and workforce opportunities to enhance K–12 learning pathways, and identify how industry-recognized credentials and college credit options can enhance pathways
This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K–12 teachers, CTE coordinators, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Michelle Lawrence is a Medicine and Healthcare Instructor with 26 years of teaching experience, dedicated to preparing students for careers in healthcare through rigorous academics and real-world application. She is nationally board certified, bringing both expertise and high professional standards into the classroom. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about mentoring students, fostering curiosity, and promoting excellence in medical and healthcare education. Outside of teaching, she enjoys running, camping, and horseback riding, which helps her stay active and balanced. She is married and values time with her family, including her husband, son, daughter, and son-in-law, and she is especially grateful to be a proud grandparent to two grandchildren.
Dr. Julye M. Adams received her Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics from the University of Kentucky. After a postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Adams founded the first Career and Technical Biomedical Sciences Program in the state of Kentucky. Her Biomedical Sciences “Village” is an anchor program at Elkhorn Crossing School in Georgetown, KY. She is a master teacher in the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) curriculum and was named both a State and National PLTW BMS Teacher of the Year. She is an Adjunct Professor for Bluegrass Community and Technical College, is a representative for Elkhorn Crossing School on the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of several district and state teacher leadership committees. She has worked with the PLTW Assessment Design and Review Panels, Ethics Committee, and Curriculum teams. Dr. Adams also holds an MS in career and technical education administration from Eastern Kentucky University and is her school’s Digital Learning Coach.
Joe McCollum is a PLTW Master teacher. He has been teaching for 22 years in Spokane, Washington. He started his teaching career as a biology teacher and then moved over to teaching the biomedical classes from PLTW full time starting in 2009. He has been a Master Teacher for all four biomedical science courses since 2013.
About the Moderator
Rocky Valadez serves as Senior Vice President of Engagement at Project Lead The Way (PLTW), where he leads strategy to strengthen state, district, and school partnerships aimed at expanding high‑quality STEM and career‑connected learning opportunities for students. With more than two decades of experience in K-12 education, Rocky brings a rare blend of instructional insight and systems‑level perspective to advance impact for both students and teachers. Prior to joining PLTW, he served as a classroom teacher, coach, consultant, and school administrator. Since joining PLTW in 2017, he’s focused on strategic initiatives that expand access to real‑world, hands‑on learning and empower educators to help students build the skills they need to thrive. Driven by a deep belief in the power of opportunity, he is committed to ensuring all students are prepared for the future they choose.
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