CMH investment opens no-cost Alliance health care pathway to Bolivar juniors

Community
• 18 May 2026

Three Bolivar R-I Schools students will attend The Alliance campus during the 2026-2027 school year while remaining Bolivar students and pursuing a healthcare pathway at no cost to their families. 

Three Bolivar R-I Schools juniors will participate in The Alliance for Healthcare Education during the 2026-2027 school year, with full tuition support provided by Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH), a workforce affiliate of The Alliance.

Rosalie Hatfield, Nora Fuller and Charles Fagan will attend school on The Alliance campus while remaining enrolled as Bolivar students. Through the program, they will pursue a healthcare pathway that allows them to graduate with their high school diploma and up to an associate degree in bioclinical science at no cost to the students or their families.

The partnership marks a meaningful step forward in expanding access to healthcare career pathways for students outside Springfield. The Alliance for Healthcare Education brings together healthcare employers, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce partners to create seamless pathways into high-demand healthcare careers. Through The Alliance model, students can explore healthcare fields, gain hands-on learning experiences, earn credentials, and begin moving toward future education and employment in healthcare.

As a workforce affiliate of The Alliance, CMH’s investment removes a significant tuition barrier for the participating Bolivar students and reflects a broader regional workforce strategy. By supporting students earlier in their educational journey, CMH is helping more young people see a future for themselves in healthcare while also investing in the long-term talent needs of the communities it serves.

“Students should not be limited by geography or family finances when they are interested in healthcare careers. This partnership is a powerful example of what regional collaboration can make possible. CMH is investing in students, in access, and in the future healthcare workforce of this region,” said Shallina Goodnight, Executive Director of The Alliance for Healthcare Education. 

For Bolivar R-I Schools, the partnership creates a new opportunity for students to access a healthcare education pathway connected to regional employers, colleges, and workforce needs while remaining rooted in their home district.

“The collaboration represents the very best of what happens when education and industry come together. By removing the financial burden of college, Citizens Memorial Hospital is opening doors for our juniors to dive full-time into The Alliance for Healthcare Education. We are thrilled to see these students jumpstart their medical sciences career paths, and we are equally proud to support CMH in strengthening the local workforce right here in Bolivar,” said Dr. Michael Methvin, Superintendent of Bolivar R-I Schools.

The announcement also represents the growing importance of regional partnerships in addressing health care workforce shortages. As demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow, schools, healthcare organizations and higher education institutions are working together in new ways to create stronger pathways into the profession.

“At CMH, we know many students are interested in healthcare careers but may not always see a clear path to get there close to home,” said Michael Calhoun, CEO and Executive Director of Citizens Memorial Hospital and Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation. “This partnership with The Alliance and Bolivar Schools helps create that path while encouraging more young people to pursue careers in healthcare. It is an investment in students, in rural healthcare and in the future of our communities.”

The addition of Bolivar students builds on The Alliance’s broader effort to expand access to healthcare education opportunities for students across southwest Missouri. By connecting students to healthcare education earlier and reducing barriers to participation, the model is designed to help more students move from interest to credential to career.

About The Alliance for Healthcare Education

The Alliance for Healthcare Education is a first-of-its-kind regional workforce development initiative designed to create seamless, affordable, accessible, and accelerated pathways into healthcare careers. Founded by CoxHealth, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College, and Springfield Public Schools, The Alliance brings together healthcare employers, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce partners to help students explore healthcare careers, earn credentials, and move toward high-demand healthcare roles. Through its founding partners and affiliate members, including Evangel University, Citizens Memorial Hospital and Burrell Behavioral Health, The Alliance is building a stronger, more connected healthcare talent pipeline for the region.

About CMH

Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) is a fully integrated healthcare system based in Bolivar, Missouri, serving eight counties in southwest Missouri. The hospital is licensed for 86 beds and is designated as a Level III Trauma Center, Level II STEMI Center and Level III Stroke Center. As a workforce affiliate of The Alliance for Healthcare Education, CMH supports efforts to expand access to healthcare career pathways and strengthen the future healthcare workforce.