From vision to victory: Essential Health Careers marks five years of training Mississippi’s healthcare heroes

By Nikisha Ware, PhD

JA Guest Writer

Five years ago, in a modest classroom with more vision than resources, Tabitha Horne, RN opened the doors to Essential Health Careers (EHC) with one mission: to train the next generation of healthcare heroes – particularly Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and, more recently, sterile processing technicians – while removing the barriers that keep too many from entering the medical field.

“I didn’t just want to teach skills,” Horne recalls. “I wanted to create a bridge between a person’s potential and a paycheck and between the dream of a better life and the tools to actually make it happen.”

Since its founding, EHC has done just that. The program boasts a 98% pass rate on state CNA exams and a 90% placement rate into hospitals and long-term care facilities across Mississippi. Many graduates go on to pursue nursing degrees and other advanced healthcare certifications, building careers that change their own lives and the lives of those they serve.

A Seed Planted by a Friend

Horne is quick to credit the woman who nudged her dream into reality: Maxine Lindsey, Program Director at Jackson Medical Mall Proprietary Healthcare Institute and a longtime friend and mentor who saw her gift for teaching and insisted she put it to use.

“She told me, ‘Tabitha, you already have what people are looking for. Stop waiting for perfect and just start,’” Horne says with a laugh. “Without her push, there might not be an Essential Health Careers today.”

Lindsey was honored at EHC’s recent 5th anniversary celebration for her role in planting that seed. “I knew she could do it,” Lindsey shared at the event. “I’ve watched her give her all to her patients and her students. This school is her calling, and Mississippi is better for it.”

Stories Behind the Statistics

For many students, EHC has been more than a training ground. It’s been a lifeline.

Courtney Moore, a CNA veteran and EHC alum, says the program transformed her career: “It’s not just about passing the test. Tabitha prepared us for the real world and how to handle patients, how to stay professional under pressure, and how to keep growing in this field. Because of EHC, I’ve had opportunities I never thought possible.”

Jasmine Stevens came to EHC after losing her job during the pandemic. Within weeks of completing the program, she was hired at a local nursing home. “It felt like I got my dignity back,” Stevens says. “I wasn’t just working again. I was in a role where I could help people.”

Meeting a Statewide Need

Mississippi’s healthcare system has long faced a shortage of qualified CNAs and sterile processing technicians, especially in rural areas.

EHC’s accelerated 16-day CNA program, shorter than most in the state, has always been the school’s heart and focus. “I’m an RN,” Horne explains. “I see firsthand the importance of the CNA role in patient care, and that’s why our foundation has always been CNA first.”

The sterile processing technician program, a newer addition, was launched in response to the growing demand for this critical, behind-the-scenes role in surgical safety and hospital efficiency. “It’s exciting to expand our training,” Horne says, “but the CNA role will always be our anchor.”

“Our graduates aren’t waiting months to find work,” she adds. “They’re getting placed within weeks and they’re staying, because we train them to be resilient, confident, and committed to their patients.”

Celebrating 5 Years, Building the Future

The 5th anniversary celebration brought together alumni, community leaders, and healthcare partners to honor EHC’s impact and look ahead to the next chapter. Honorees included Maxine Lindsey, standout alumni, and healthcare organizations that have consistently hired EHC graduates.

Looking forward, Horne’s focus is on expanding partnerships, increasing scholarships, and continuing to grow the sterile processing program while keeping CNA training at the core.

“This is about more than a school,” she reflects. “It’s about legacy. Every student we train goes on to touch hundreds of lives. That ripple effect… that’s why we do this.”

For more information, call 601-914-6600, email enroll@beacnanow.com, or visit www.essentialhealthcareers.com.