Impacts of Medical Education in High School on Healthcare Career Determination

There is a growing shortage of healthcare workers in the United States, particularly in rural areas. Nearly two-thirds of healthcare provider shortages occur in rural regions, and this deficit is projected to worsen. Recruitment into healthcare careers has become increasingly difficult due to multiple factors, including distrust in the medical system and the financial burden of higher education. Early exposure to healthcare-related topics may play a critical role in fostering interest in these careers. We hypothesize that engaging high school students in structured lessons on anatomy, physiology, and pathology can increase their interest in healthcare professions.

More than 200 high school students from rural and urban South Dakota were recruited to participate in a semester-long program consisting of weekly lessons on human anatomy, physiology, pathology, and relevant clinical applications. Lessons were tailored to students' interests and delivered both in person and virtually. Pre- and post-program surveys assessed students' interest in healthcare careers and human biology-related topics.

Preliminary data indicate an increase in students expressing interest in healthcare careers by the end of the semester. Additionally, students demonstrated a greater enthusiasm for human body-related topics compared to baseline. While further data collection and analysis are needed, initial findings suggest a positive correlation between structured healthcare education and increased interest in healthcare professions.

This study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating structured healthcare-related education in high school curricula. Schools that lack funding for dedicated anatomy or physiology courses could use these findings to support grant applications and advocate for additional resources. Increasing early exposure to healthcare topics may be a viable strategy for addressing workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities.