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Union Public Schools
Our mission is to graduate 100 percent of our students, college and career ready.

Medical

U Med Logo for Union Medical Academy

Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

A partnership between Union Public Schools and Tulsa-area healthcare organizations - preparing students for real careers in medicine

Union Medical Academy (UMED) is a dedicated healthcare career pathway housed at Union Public Schools’ Innovation Lab, the Union High School campus and at Union Freshman Academy.

"Union wants to empower students with real-world medical science experiences that prepare them for future healthcare careers and meaningful service to their community," said Dr. Kenneth Moore, executive director of Second Education for Union Public Schools.

In the foreground, a group of young people practice CPR on mannequins, while in the background, more students observe the demonstration.

High School students practice CPR in an event sponsored by St. Francis Health System.

UMED prepares students for high-demand medical careers through: 

  • Rigorous coursework aligned with healthcare competencies
  • Industry-recognized certifications
  • Hands-on, clinically relevant learning experiences
  • Integrated soft skills, communication and workforce readiness training; and 
  • Direct exposure to healthcare professionals and career pathways across the Saint Francis Health system. 

UMED currently serves approximately 205 students in grades 9-12, including 130 students enrolled in Level 1: Medical Careers, the introductory survey course available beginning in the ninth grade. This course provides interactive experiences with CPR certification, obtaining patient vitals, approach to a bleeding patient, AED use and other medical procedures. Students will receive an introduction to patient interview skills, medical ethics, mindfulness practices and basic anatomy. 

By Year 2 of the program, an additional 200 students are expected to enroll for a total of 350 students. A second course will be added, Level 2: Medical Systems, which will explore the structure and interactions of various body systems with a case-based learning approach to diagnosing and treating medical problems/illnesses. This course will provide basic life support certification and a focus on patient interview skills to provide a more comprehensive patient medical evaluation. 
 

Mission:


"To build the next generation of compassionate, skilled healthcare professionals through strong partnerships with local medical, STEM and community organizations"

UMED is committed to delivering a rigorous curriculum and an interactive experience to build strong medical knowledge and prepare students for successful futures in healthcare. Through comprehensive exposure to a wide range of medical careers and professionals in the field, students gain practical skills and credentials that support immediate employment after graduation, a successful transition to college, or enhanced competitiveness within their chosen health fields. UMED is intentionally designed to serve both college-bound students and those preparing to enter the workforce directly after high school. 

Instruction blends classroom learning with simulations, guest speakers, field trips, and eventually clinical experiences as partnerships and capacity grow. Over time, coursework will expand into more specialized healthcare pathways. Students will earn industry-recognized certifications such as CPR, BLS, AED and Stop the Bleed. To eliminate financial barriers, all instruction, materials, certifications and transportation are provided at no cost to students.

Students in white coats carry a person on a stretcher across a football field, with a stadium and buildings in the background.

Students practice transporting a patience during a Youth Medical Mentorship activity at Union Tuttle Field.

 

Leadership: Dr. Jessica Kreitzberg

Union Public Schools has hired Dr. Jessica Kreitzberg, D.O., a practicing hematologist oncologist, to create the new Union Medical Academy (UMED) for high school students in response to local workforce needs, with the assistance of presenting sponsor Saint Francis Health System and other founding partners.

Dr. Kreitzberg is board-certified in hematology and graduated from University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and Biosciences in 2008. She completed a residency at Michigan State University College of Medicine’s Genesys Regional Medical Center, a 410-bed hospital with a level 2 trauma center, where she supervised medical students and interns in the cardiac, surgical and medical intensive care units. Her training also included a continuity clinic at an underserved medical clinic in Flint, Mich. Since 2020, Dr. Kreitzberg has served as a physician at Saint Francis Hematology Oncology in Tulsa; previously, she worked two years at Genesee Hematology Oncology, PC, in Flint. She will continue to work part-time at Saint Francis.

 “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Kreitzberg aboard in this exciting new role as we expand our medical offerings into a fully realized Medical Academy,” said Superintendent Dr. John Federline. “Being a Union alum, a ‘lifer’ and a Union parent, Dr. Kreitzberg deeply understands our culture and the importance of student engagement. We see great potential in creating a medical career track like the success we’ve seen in our Aerospace and Construction academies."

Dr. Jessica Kreitzberg

Dr. Kreitzberg brings considerable enthusiasm and passion for helping students in developing this program, which is very exciting, Federline said.

Dr. Kreitzberg said, “Our goal is to grow the program to include internships in Years 3 and 4. We have great resources through Union, but our success is dependent upon expanding relationships with local medical, dental, veterinary, emergency services and other providers to enhance the program and offer real-world experiences.

"There will also be opportunities for students to earn certifications and maybe even participate in paid training. Our goal is to expose students to the whole spectrum of medical offerings, as there are many pathways to success that don’t require becoming a medical doctor.”

Why Partners Matter

The Saint Francis Health System logo is in the upper portion of the image, with %22Presenting Sponsor%22 text below it on a white background.

In support of the effort, Saint Francis Health System has contributed $100,000 over the next two years and will serve as the presenting sponsor of Union’s Medical Academy. Other local partners include the Ralph and Francis McGill Foundation, the Union Schools Education Foundation (USEF) and Union Board Member Dr. Chris McNeil, D.O., an emergency medicine resident physician at OSU Medical Center and founder of Youth Medical Mentorship (YMM).

“We are extremely grateful to our generous partners for helping us fulfill the dream of creating the Union Medical Academy for our students,” said Dr. Kenneth Moore, executive director of Secondary Education. “As presenting sponsor, Saint Francis has been a partner in the development of UMED from its inception. We are also thankful to the Ralph and Francis McGill Foundation for providing the initial grant that jump-started the program and provided hands-on materials to enhance the curriculum. Also, thanks to Union Schools Education Foundation for funding more lab experiences and Dr. Chris McNeil who has been instrumental in the visioning process. Dr. McNeil’s medical expertise and ongoing support through the Youth Medical Mentorship program has been invaluable in boosting student engagement levels. We are thankful to all our partners.”

 

With the help of community partners, Union hopes to:

  •  Inspire future healthcare professionals
  • Strengthen the Tulsa healthcare workforce pipeline
  • Create authentic mentor and role model opportunities

Partnership Wish List

Among the anticipated shortages in the medical and related professions workforce:

  • Registered Nurses: Oklahoma is #7 among the top 10 states with the largest projected shortage of RNs in 2038 – a shortage of 5,900.*
  • Physicians: By 2030, Oklahoma is projected to be short 451 primary care providers, largely due to long education pipelines and access disparities in urban and rural areas. Of the 195 residency slots in Oklahoma, 45.2 percent of those doctors are expected to practice out of state. Seventy-five of Oklahoma’s 77 counties are health professional shortage areas. **
  • Dentists: Oklahoma has a significant shortage of dentists, particularly in rural areas, with 55.3 dental care providers per 100,000 people compared to 61.2 nationally. About 1.3 million Oklahomans live in counties considered dental health professional shortage areas, further hindering access to care.***
  • Veterinarians: Over the past five years, 64 out of 77 Oklahoma counties have experienced shortages of veterinarians. An estimated 630 Oklahoma veterinarians (39%) will reach retirement age within the next 10 years.⸸
  • Allied Health demand: Physical therapists, magnetic resonance imaging and cardiovascular technicians, diagnostic medical sonographers and occupational therapists are among the careers projected to have a significant shortage by 2038 in Oklahoma. Medical and laboratory technician roles require expanded high school CTE and certification programs to address workforce gaps.⸸⸸

Sources

*National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (HRSA). Nurse Workforce Projections, 2022–2037. Published November 2024.

**Petterson SM, Cai A, Moore M, Bazemore A. Oklahoma: Projecting Primary Care Physician Workforce, 2010–2030. Robert Graham Center. Published 2013; and Cicero Institute. Oklahoma Physician Shortage Facts. Published February 13, 2025.

UMED At A Glance

Three girls in the foreground are applying fake wounds to an arm on a table, while in the background, another person stands near a counter with cabinets.
A woman in a red shirt looks on as another woman with glasses applies a fake wound to her arm, with a book and laptop on the table in front of them and cabinets in the background.
A young man in the foreground holds a clear bag with %22Saint Francis Trauma Institute%22 printed on it, while a crowd of people watches in the background.
A group of nine young people stand in front of an EMSA ambulance, all making the %22hook 'em horns%22 gesture.
A paramedic demonstrates medical equipment to a group of students outside a building with trees in the background.
Two young women are applying fake blood and wounds to each other's hands in the foreground, while blurred figures and a counter with electrical outlets are visible in the background.
Three young people in the foreground smile and hold clear bags with %22Saint Francis%22 printed on them, while a crowd of other attendees sits in the background at an indoor event.
A woman in a blue scrub top instructs a group of teenagers on CPR techniques using manikins in the foreground, while others watch and participate in the background.
Two women in medical vests and a person in a lab coat transport a patient on a stretcher across a green field, with a stadium and spectators visible in the background.
A group of students in lab coats gather around a table displaying packaged food items and a laptop, with a classroom or laboratory setting visible in the background.
In the foreground, a group of young people practice CPR on mannequins, while in the background, more students observe the demonstration.
A teacher stands at the front of a classroom, gesturing towards a large screen, while students sit at desks in the foreground, facing him.
In the foreground, a young man practices CPR on a training dummy under the guidance of an instructor, while in the background, a group of students watches attentively.
Students in a classroom with anatomical models on their desks listen to a teacher presenting at a large screen in front of a whiteboard.
Students in white coats carry a person on a stretcher across a football field, with a stadium and buildings in the background.
A teacher stands in front of a group of students seated around a table in a classroom with a large screen in the background.
Three young girls in lab coats pose playfully in the foreground on a green carpet, while an older woman and other children in lab coats are visible in the blurred background of a gymnasium.
A man in scrubs points to an anatomical diagram on a large screen, with a computer and cabinets visible in the background.
A teacher instructs students in a classroom with anatomical charts on the wall.
A group of young people in lab coats stand under a tent on a grassy field, listening to a woman at a table with medical supplies.
A teacher stands and instructs a group of students seated around a table in a classroom with anatomical charts on the wall.
A teacher stands before a large screen in a classroom, while students sit at a table in the foreground engaged in a lesson.
Four young people in lab coats pose in the foreground, with a gym-like background featuring weight racks and an American flag.
A stretcher with medical bags sits in front of an open ambulance, with a clear blue sky and a building in the background.

Contacts

918-357-6102

UMED Team

Dr. Jessica Kreitzberg
UMED Lead

Brandon Lantz
Medical Careers Teacher
Union Innovation Lab

Meghan Bender
Associate Principal for Union High School

Andrea Gaines
Science/STEM Curriculum Specialist

Dr. Kenneth Moore
Executive Director of Secondary Education

Locations

Union Innovation Lab
6235 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa

Union Freshman Academy
7616 S. Garnett, Broken Arrow