Similarly, for Sophie Villani, HSA guided her on a path to medical school. After relocating from London, Ontario, to Greenville as a sophomore at D.H. Conley High School, she was struck by the opportunity HSA presented.

“We didn’t really have anything like this where I used to live,” Villani said. “I had already known I wanted to go into medicine, but it wasn’t until Health Sciences Academy that I really had real experiences to confirm that.”

Villani dove headfirst into everything HSA offered: the Brody School of Medicine research program, a clinical internship and a study abroad experience in Europe. Today, Villani is a medical student at the Brody School of Medicine, slated to graduate in 2026. With her sights set on pediatrics, she hopes to remain in North Carolina to serve the community that helped shape her path.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the networking and the experiences I had through HSA,” Villani said.

David Roberts, also from Greenville, began his path in HSA as a student at South Central High School. Today, he’s a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at ECU Health Medical Center.

“HSA was really eye-opening,” Roberts said. “Getting that kind of exposure at a young age, it opened a lot of doors.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and interning with Maynard Children’s Hospital, Roberts reconnected with Lassiter and pursued nursing at Pitt Community College through the HomeGrown program. His journey came full circle when he joined the NICU team at ECU Health.

“Seeing the care nurses were providing, not just for the patients, but for the family members, that’s what stuck with me,” Roberts said. “That’s where my heart is.”

As a member of one of the first HSA classes in 2005, Garrett Wingate knew early on that his future would involve health care, he just didn’t yet know in what way. Through hands-on shadowing in everything from sports medicine and physical therapy to orthodontics and pre-dental, Wingate explored a wide range of possibilities. Though he began college as a pre-dental student, those experiences ultimately helped him discover his true calling in health education and kinesiology.

After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health education from East Carolina University, he went on to complete a doctorate in kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. His research focused on football players and concussions. Now a high school history teacher and football coach, Wingate says everything he learned in HSA ties back to his career today.

“All the classes I took and the opportunities to shadow people really led me down the path of what I did,” said Wingate. “It helped me tremendously, and everything I do is still directly tied to health care.”

Wingate encourages students to apply to HSA, even if they’re unsure.

“The program is great for exposure,” said Wingate. “Once you go do it and realize it’s not for you, that’s the best thing in the world. And if you do it and love it, even better. It just helps you find your path.”

At this year’s celebration, Lassiter offered gratitude to the many who have guided the program over two decades.

“Tonight, we celebrate the organizations and individuals who oversaw and supported the Health Sciences Academy, as well as celebrate our cherished graduates,” Lassiter said. “Thank you for loving your communities and dedicating your careers to serve others.”