LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Around 600 area high schoolers got a hands-on look at the many careers in the healthcare field. Nathan Kitchens has more.
When people think of the medical field, doctors and nurses often come to mind. A Healthcare Futures Day is here to show area high schoolers that the future is wide open when it comes to opportunities in healthcare. Ohio State Lima partnered with Mercy Health-St. Rita's to hold the event for the second year in a row. We spoke to a few students to hear what kind of healthcare career they could see themselves in.
"I think I really want to be like an X-ray tech. I just think that's really cool getting to look at bones and stuff, and I just think it would be awesome," commented Griffin Klausing, Kalida High School.
"I'm planning to go to like a zoology. Anatomy of humans are very similar to a lot of animals, especially pigs, dogs. I thought this would be a nice way to learn about that first," said Gabriel Binkley, Bath High School.
Graduate students with the Mercy Health Medical Education program guided the students through a hands-on approach on topics like ultrasounds, splinting, and suturing, and even checking out simulation rooms that mock a real medical scenario. The goal is to show our future workforce the difference they can make in health care, right here in their own community.
"High school kids have a whole lot of pressure and they're learning about what they want to do with their futures. We hope that today helps encourage them. That path might be long sometimes, but it's worth it. We want them back in our community to care for all of us," stated Beth Keehn, director of government and community affairs at Mercy Health.
Students say what motivates them to pursue a future in the medical field is the ability to help people in their time of need.
"I've seen a lot of people in my family work in the healthcare field. I just think it's so cool that you can help people. It's just really cool to me, and it's amazing what they can do," said Kara Lammers, Kalida High School.
