Future health care workers camp

Area of Science:

• Health professions education
• Adolescent career development
• Healthcare workforce development

Background:

• Adolescents often lack practical experience when choosing health careers.
• Informed career decisions require exposure to real-world professional environments.
• There is a need for effective healthcare recruitment strategies targeting young individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a unique, interdepartmental program designed for teenagers interested in health careers.
• To evaluate the program's effectiveness as a health care recruitment tool.
• To provide adolescents with practical insights into diverse health-related professions.

Main Methods:

• Development of an interdepartmental, camp-themed program for adolescents.
• Inclusion of on-site experiences within healthcare settings.
• Facilitation of interactions with professional role models in health care.
• Provision of practical career information for various health-related fields.

Main Results:

• The program successfully engaged teenagers in health care environments.
• Participants gained practical knowledge and exposure to health professions.
• The initiative served as a viable recruitment tool for the healthcare sector.

Conclusions:

• Interdepartmental collaboration can create effective health career exploration programs for adolescents.
• Experiential learning and mentorship are crucial for guiding career choices in health care.
• Such programs can positively impact healthcare workforce development by attracting future professionals.