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Russell Sage College’s I Can Achieve a Nursing Degree program — known by the acronym ICAN — is celebrating its third year of inspiring teens from backgrounds underrepresented in registered nursing and other healthcare fields that require a bachelor’s degree.
Established in 2023 with a grant from Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and strengthened with support from the Innovation Partnership between Albany County and MVP Health Care, ICAN matches high school students with healthcare mentors and facilitates educational and professional healthcare experiences, including paid employment. The program also provides academic support to guide students through high school, college applications, and a nursing degree.
“ICAN is a pathway that prepares students for both college and career success. By connecting high school scholars to hands-on healthcare experiences, professional mentors, and academic support, we’re not only opening doors to opportunity, we’re forming a network of caring adults, developing their resumes and building their social capital. This work directly reflects Russell Sage College’s commitment to social mobility, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the chance to realize their full potential and thrive in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Geoff Miller, executive director of strategic partnerships, chief values officer, and ICAN program manager at Russell Sage.
The program’s first partnership was with Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls. In 2024, ICAN added a partnership with Green Tech High and initiatives to increase the representation of men in nursing. This year, ICAN is launching a STEM series for middle school students at KIPP Albany Community Charter Schools.
Miller noted that student interest, program offerings, and community visibility have increased every year and shared recent ICAN highlights:
- Record interest: ICAN received 42 student applications from high school students for 30 spots in the 2025-2026 cohort. The 2023 cohort had 22 ICAN scholars, and the 2024 cohort had 23 scholars.
- Expert mentors: ICAN’s 31 mentors — including Sage faculty and alumni — bring a range of nursing and healthcare expertise and connections to ICAN partner Albany Med.
- Deeper school engagement: ICAN now provides bi-weekly in-school support at Green Tech and Albany Leadership Charter School, allowing for stronger ties with ICAN scholars and their school communities.
- Workforce pathways: Through a new partnership with Albany Medical Center’s Pathways program, ICAN scholars 16 or older are eligible for paid internships as patient care and anesthesia technicians.
- Expanded credentials: In addition to instruction in phlebotomy, CPR, first aid, and defibrillator use, ICAN scholars will complete a seminar in vitals and graduate with a Medical Assistant certificate.
- Expanded STEM focus and youth outreach: A new seven-part, in-school STEM series for middle schoolers at KIPP will replace the former single event format.
- Community visibility: ICAN reached prospective scholars and mentors through fliers, social media, and other outreach, and drew media attention with its 2024 ICAN Healthcare Summit, headlined by social media star Joel Bervell, the “Medical Mythbuster.”