The Progress-Index
PETERSBURG, Va. — Local adolescents will have the opportunity to learn about careers in the medical field during the Healthcare Careers Exploring Program.
An open house for the program takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Union Station, 103 River St.
The Healthcare Careers Exploring Program consists of a series of lectures held once a month from September through June. The Southside Health Education Foundation partnered with local health care centers and schools to provide a realistic perspective.
Lectures include “Learning your Pathway into a Healthcare Career,” held at Virginia State University, and “911: Emergency Medical Services,” hosted by the Southside Virginia Emergency Crew.
Karen Cameron, program director, said that the point was to let students know that many of the most in-demand jobs in healthcare only require a two-year degree.
“A lot of people think, ‘I have to be a doctor,’ but a lot of the fastest-growing careers are two-year programs and you don’t even have to be a clinician,” she said.
Among the top 10 most in-demand medical professions are home health aide, pharmacy technician, medical records technician and paramedic.
She said that hopefully students will gain an understanding of what is required of various professions and how to get started.
“The idea is to give young people the overall knowledge of what’s available to them and allow them to network and potentially find new mentors,” she said.
The Southside Health Education Foundation is looking for participants ages 16 to 20. Students who are residents of Southern Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George and Sussex are eligible to participate.
The Southside Health Education Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on developing healthcare professions to develop a diverse and experienced workforce in the area. The program is largely funded by a $38,400 grant from the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.
Copyright 2013 The Progress-Index