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.
![A UNI student working with a senior patient on strength building exercises.](/sites/default/files/inline-uploads/medical_gerientology1.jpg)
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.