Digital Health
Workforce Initiative (DHWI)

About Digital Health Workforce Initiative

The Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI) is a new NSF-Funded program that helps teachers integrate emerging technologies like biomedical hardware and artificial intelligence (AI) into their classrooms and prepares students for careers in those same fields. This new partnership between Rice University, the Digital Health Institute, and Houston Methodist aims to provide hands-on summer learning and stipend opportunities for high school students, community college students, and high school teachers. Participants explore digital health technologies, develop real-world technical skills, and engage with university and industry mentors.

The program features two tracks:

• Student Track (High School & Community College): Students participate in either a Software or Hardware project pathway, students will rank their preferred track in the application.
  • Hardware Track: The focus of the Enabling AI in Healthcare via Hardware track is for participants to understand how hardware innovations transform healthcare, particularly through wearable devices and technologies that monitor, diagnose, and treat patients. Participants will explore the underlying principles of wearable technologies, medical devices, and sensors and gain hands-on experience with the tools that drive advancements in digital health.
  • Software Track: The focus of the Enabling AI in Healthcare via Software track is for the participants to understand how AI can detect disease by making predictions early and accurately. Students will receive in-depth hands-on training on the critical tools of PyTorch and other dominant tools in machine learning and AI.
• Teacher Track: High school educators in math, physics, computer science, and CTE participate in a condensed version of both of the student tracks. Teachers will also engage in experiential learning digital health learning designed to strengthen classroom practice and connect students to emerging STEM careers.

2026–2027 DHWI

Informational Zoom Meeting: Click here to join
December 2, 2025
- Community College & High-School Students: 6-6:30 p.m.
- High School Educators in Math, Physics, CS, or CTE: 6:45-7:15 p.m.

Applications open November 2025.
All forms are due by the application deadline.

*This program is contingent upon funding.

^{*Program times, dates, locations, and compensation subject to change before the first day of the program.
**Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to apply.}

High School Educators in Math, Physics, CS, or CTE

Program Overview
The Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI), funded by NSF, the Digital Health Institute, and Houston Methodist, supports high school teachers in math, physics, computer science, and career and technical education in integrating emerging digital health technologies into classroom practice. Ten educators will participate in a two-week summer program focused on hardware and software applications in digital health, followed by continued academic-year collaboration.In addition to hands-on training, teachers will engage in team-building, networking through the Rice-Methodist Digital Health Institute, and a tour of Houston Methodist to meet digital health leaders. During the academic year, they will design and publish lessons incorporating experiential learning and digital health applications that can be used in the secondary classrooms.

Benefits
- Hands-on real world experience with digital health hardware and software
- Participants will develop an in-depth understanding of circuits, digital design, artificial intelligence tools, and their applications in the biomedical enterprise.
- Equip teachers with Experiential Learning Pedagogy Strategies.
- Collaboration with university researchers and healthcare professionals
- Participation in a Spring Innovator Showcase
- Stipends up to $5,300

Eligibility & Application
- Open to high school teachers in math, physics, computer science, and CTE
- Priority consideration for applicants from Alief ISD, HISD, and Aldine ISD
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
- Selection will use a lottery process among eligible applicants

Application Materials: Principal Letter of Recommendation, PAL

- Application closes: January 7, 2026
- Notification: February 27, 2026

Apply here

School Year Training (Fall 2026 - Spring 2027)
Teacher Program Dates: June 22 – July 2, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

- Experiential learning in digital health hardware and software
- Collaboration with research and healthcare partners
- Guided curriculum adaptation

Academic-Year Engagement (Fall 2026 – Spring 2027)
- Six Saturday sessions (dates released after cohort selection)
- Participation in the Spring Innovator Showcase
- Submission of at least one lesson for peer review

Community College & High-School Students

Program Overview
The Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI) is a new NSF-supported program offering paid summer opportunities for high school students, community college students, and high school teachers to explore emerging biomedical hardware technologies and AI in healthcare through hands-on learning. The current 9th–10th grade students and community college students cohort will take part in either a software or hardware track pathway, gaining experience in coding, sensors, data, and real-world digital health AI applications. Students will learn alongside university and industry mentors and receive continued academic-year enrichment and collaboration.

Benefits
- Hands-on experience with digital health software and hardware systems
- Skill-building in coding, sensors, data analysis, and problem-solving
- Collaboration with university researchers and healthcare professionals
- Participation in a Spring Innovator Showcase
- Stipends up to $1,800 for high school students
- Stipends up to $3,000 for community college students

Eligibility & Application
- Open to current 9th–10th grade high school students (2025–2026 school year) and Community college students
- Priority consideration for applicants from:

• High School: Alief ISD, HISD, and Aldine ISD
• Community College: Houston City College and San Jacinto College

Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
Selection will use a lottery process among eligible applicants

Application closes: January 7, 2026
Notification: February 27, 2026

Apply here

Application Materials:
High School Students: Most recent Report card, teacher letter of recommendation, PAL
Community College Students: Professor letter of recommendation, unofficial transcript, PAL

School Year Training (Fall 2026 - Spring 2027) | Student Program Dates:
- Software Track: June 8 – June 18, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Hardware Track: June 22 – July 2, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

- Hands-on experiential learning in digital health
- Collaboration with research and healthcare partners
- Skill-building in digital health innovation

Academic-Year Engagement (Fall 2026 – Spring 2027)
- Six Saturday sessions (dates released after cohort selection)
- Participation in the Spring Innovator Showcase
- Continued collaboration with mentors and peer cohort

Program Flyers

Please see the DHWI flyers below.

High School Educators in Math, Physics, CS, or CTE: click here
Community College & High-School Students: click here

DHWI Program Administration

If you have any questions about DHWI, you can contact the program lead.

Brittany Templeton
Assistant Director for Computer Science and Mathematics
713-348-8218 | bt36@rice.edu

^{*Program times, dates, locations, and compensation subject to change before the first day of the program.
**Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to apply.}

^{This program is contingent upon funding.}