From Clippers to Careers: Turning Fresh Cuts into Brighter Futures

Dean Health Plan by Medica and the Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association are transforming trusted barbershops into hubs for health screenings, mentorship and future healthcare careers.
MADISON, WI - Dean Health Plan by Medica is partnering with the Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association (RLWA) to launch the Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative, an innovative community-based program that combines health screenings, mentorship and career exploration opportunities designed to improve community health while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

For generations, Black barbershops have served as trusted gathering places where relationships are built, advice is shared and communities connect. Through the Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative, those trusted spaces will also become gateways to preventive care, health education and future career opportunities for young men.

"This initiative is about creating possibilities," said Josh Gustafson, Wisconsin Market President for Medica. "By connecting young people with healthcare professionals and bringing health resources into the heart of the community, we're helping open doors to careers, mentorship and healthier futures that can have an impact for generations."

The program is being led by community advocate and RLWA founder Aaron Perry. Perry's work extends beyond the barbershop. Through community-based health initiatives focused on chronic disease prevention, health education, mentorship and peer support, he has spent years building trusted relationships with Black men and families throughout the Madison area. Those relationships helped shape the Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative and its focus on prevention, mentorship and culturally relevant healthcare engagement.

"For years, we've worked alongside Black men and families to address health challenges, build trust and connect people with the resources they need," Perry said. "This initiative builds on those relationships by bringing health screenings and mentorship into trusted community spaces while helping young people see themselves as the next generation of nurses, physicians and healthcare professionals."

Through hands-on mentorship and exposure to healthcare careers, middle school students will have opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals, learn about nursing and other healthcare fields, and envision themselves in future healthcare roles. At the same time, community members visiting participating barbershops will have access to health screenings and resources that support prevention, early detection and overall wellbeing.

The Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative is designed to:

Inspire youth to pursue healthcare careers through mentorship and hands-on exposure.

• Promote preventive care and early detection of chronic health conditions.
• Encourage conversations that support behavioral health and overall wellbeing.
• Strengthen partnerships among healthcare organizations, schools, community leaders and Black-owned businesses.
• Create pathways for young people in the healthcare field.

The initiative began this fall at participating Madison-area barbershops:
Marveliz Cutz Barbershop
642 S Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

JP Hair Design Barbershop
584 Grand Canyon Dr, Madison, WI 53719

Resilient Hair Design Barbershop
6634 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI 53705

"The program is designed to create benefits that extend beyond a single screening or mentoring session," explains Perry. "By connecting youth, families, healthcare professionals, schools and local businesses, the program aims to strengthen community wellbeing while helping develop a future healthcare workforce that better reflects the communities it serves."

"As a mission-driven member-focused health company, we believe stronger communities are built when people have access to opportunities, trusted relationships and the support they need to thrive," said Gustafson. "Programs like this invest in all three. By supporting community-led solutions that improve health and inspire future healthcare professionals, we're helping create healthier communities today while building a stronger healthcare workforce for tomorrow."

The Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative is a 3-year $300,000 investment and is part of a broader commitment by Medica to investing in community partnerships that improve health while opening doors for young people. Similar efforts supported by Medica include Nebraska's Healthcare Heroes program, which introduces elementary students to healthcare careers through mentorship and hands-on experiences, and Minnesota's Summer of Health Internship Program, which places high school students in rural healthcare settings to gain real-world exposure to the field.

About Dean Health Plan by Medica

Dean Health Plan by Medica is a Wisconsin-based community health plan serving members in southern Wisconsin. Products include HMO and freedom-of-choice insurance plans for commercial and individual customers, Medicare and Medicaid programs, and third-party administrator services. For more information, visit deancare.com.