Published on October 31, 2024
Read Time: 2 Minutes
Three Things to Know
- Phelps Health hosted the Show-Me Careers event on October 11, providing local educators an inside look at healthcare careers.
- School staff toured various departments, experienced virtual reality nursing simulations and learned about job shadowing opportunities.
- Educators appreciated the event and expressed interest in continuing the healthcare career conversation.
On October 11, Phelps Health hosted the Show-Me Careers event, giving 32 educators, counselors and administrators from its six-county service area an inside look into healthcare careers.
Show-Me Careers is a professional development program from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The program allows school personnel to learn about a variety of career paths and share the information with their students.
This year marked the first time Phelps Health has hosted the Show-Me Careers event.
“Phelps Health was chosen after being approached by the Missouri Chamber and the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, who identified our organization as a strong partner for this program,” said Phelps Health Student Education Coordinator and event organizer Sarah Honse. “We hope that area high school students will learn about the many career opportunities at Phelps Health and consider us for future employment.”
Participants included school district staff from Rolla, Waynesville, Salem, Cole County, St. James, Houston, Steelville, Gasconade County, Union, Crawford County, Licking and Sullivan. Advisors from the rootEd Alliance and South Central Regional Professional Development Center (educational organizations) were also on hand.
Phelps Health Human Resources (HR) leaders welcomed the attendees, followed by a clinical and nonclinical employee spotlight. School staff then toured several key areas of Phelps Health, including the Delbert Day Cancer Institute, Surgical Orthopedics Department, Acute Rehabilitation Unit and a therapy gym.
Educators also joined engaging sessions on virtual reality nursing simulations and training with manikins. Carmen Phenix, HR recruiter and fellow event organizer, discussed patient care, clerical and administrative career paths. Then, Sarah Menary, executive director for the Mid-Missouri Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at Phelps Health, presented on clinical job shadowing opportunities.
Participants gave the event positive reviews, appreciating the detailed, hands-on look at healthcare careers.
“I spoke with a St. James High School principal at a career fair the following week,” Carmen said. “He expressed interest in bringing his students to tour several of our departments, letting them see firsthand the variety of careers available in healthcare.”
“The feedback that I received was all very positive,” added HR Director Karen Micich. “Carmen and Sarah did an excellent job putting this event together.”
If given the opportunity, Phelps Health looks forward to hosting the event again, hoping to connect more educators to the healthcare industry.
Explore More
Educators: If your school is interested in participating in future similar opportunities, please reach out to Sarah Honse at shonse@phelpshealth.org or (573) 458-3376. To learn more about the Show-Me Careers program, visit their web page.