Exploring Medical & Health Careers
Health care occupations are expected to grow 16% over the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Ideas for helping K-12 students pursue medical/health careers:
- Encourage students to take exploratory classes or tracks.
- Arrange job shadows or observations.
- Encourage math all four years of high school; statistics is great prep for any STEM career!
- Encourage volunteering and involvement in student organizations.
- When they are looking for a higher education option, encourage them to do a campus visit and to ask about laboratories, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, clinical experience and other student experiences.
- Encourage students who want a stable career or want to pick where they live to consider a health career.
- Invite guest speakers to talk about their path/career.
- Share the message that health careers require a wide variety of preparation from a certificate after high school through PhD programs.
- Remind students that it's ok not to know exactly what you want to do; there is time to explore and change your mind in community college and at university.
- Encourage students who want to help people or make the world a better place to think about health careers.
Resources
Share these resources with students to help them navigate the many health and medical career options. Don't let students get overwhelmed by the choices.