Georgia’s healthcare industry is growing fast, but there aren’t enough workers to fill open roles. That’s creating new paths for people like Karen Huddleston, a mom of five who’s now training for a career in surgery — all at no cost.

Huddleston is part of Wellstar’s Career Care program, a free job training path that helps entry-level employees move into high-demand roles in healthcare.

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A path to better work
Huddleston, a former nutrition worker with Wellstar, is now training to become a surgical technologist.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said. “But going to school with kids and work and everything else… it was always difficult.”

The program offers free online classes, covers 100% of tuition, books, and fees, and guarantees both wage growth and job placement once training is complete.

Huddleston completed her coursework in just four months and is now gaining hands-on experience in the operating room.

Fast-track career training
Participants like Huddleston start in jobs such as transportation or nutrition services, then apply to Career Care. Once accepted, they can stay on the clock while training — and even get a raise during the process.

“They don’t pay a single dime out of pocket,” said a Wellstar official. “And we guarantee placement when they finish.”

In her first month of hands-on training, Huddleston assisted with at least 60 surgeries, working directly alongside surgeons.

Why it matters
Georgia is projected to be short 35,000 nurses within the next decade, according to health officials. Career Care is designed to help fill those gaps — and give workers a clear path forward.

For Huddleston, it’s also about setting an example for her kids.

“It makes me feel like I’m doing something right,” she said. “Hopefully it rubs off on them.”

Huddleston now hopes to keep growing — with her sights set on becoming a registered nurse.

As featured on 11 Alive website and reported by Cheryl Preheim and Makayla Richards on April 5, 2025.