Uzziah Bailey, a 2025 Columbus City Schools (CCS) alum, has made a quick pivot from high school graduate to dental assistant at Nationwide Children's Hospital. According to a recent profile by CCS, Bailey's day-to-day transformation involved a start by setting up his room each morning, checking schedules and collaborating with doctors, focusing on the needs of young patients. He gained his footing in the field at the Fort Hayes Career Center during his junior year, where he had plans for the NFL, before dedication to health sciences took hold of his career trajectory.
Having graduated from Northland High School and Fort Hayes Career Center, Bailey's journey represents a successful outcome of the Career-Technical Education (CTE) system. "Picking dental was probably one of the best choices I've ever made in my life," Bailey told CCS. Shifting gears from football dreams and the allure of physical therapy, his discovery of the dental program became the blueprint for his current profession. Now a full-time dental assistant, his responsibilities include patient care support, among various other duties, within clinical operations.
Wendy Williamson, the Youth Engagement Coach for the Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative at Nationwide Children's Hospital, detailed the CTE pathway to healthcare careers. Students move from the classroom to work-based learning, branching into a summer program, and finally, into employment. "In some cases, they are working at the hospital while attending college, which creates a smooth transition from graduate to health care career," Williamson explained in a statement obtained by CCS.
The Dental Assistant pathway at Fort Hayes Career Center provided Bailey with a comprehensive experience encompassing patient care, infection control, chairside assisting, and routine dental clinical practices. His transition from the classroom to the clinic was seamless, with experience in reviewing charts and assisting with procedures already in hand. "By the time students come to [Nationwide Children's] from the Career Center, they already have book knowledge and hands-on experience," said Williamson in a statement obtained by CCS. Bailey credits the program with teaching him professionalism and how to communicate with patients and their parents effectively.
Bailey's ascent to a dental assistant position not only enhances his own prospects but serves the wider Columbus community, affirming the value of CTE programs during CTE Month. Stories like his underscore the direct link between specialized training and meaningful employment, bolstering the workforce with skilled professionals while contributing to public health, one smile at a time.
