High School Students Explore Career Paths in Healthcare Through MAHEC Program Visit

During the 2024 summer, the Maryland Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Program at UMSOM welcomed 40 high school students to campus across Western Maryland, rural Eastern Shore, and Baltimore City schools to explore a broad spectrum of careers in healthcare, from Shock Trauma to dentistry.

The group consisted of students who are already actively engaged in their regional Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) career pathways programs, designed to prepare them for matriculation into college and healthcare professions. Each student completed a full day of immersive activities at UMSOM and the greater University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus. These included Stop the Bleed training, an anatomy lab workshop as well as tours of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and National Museum of Dentistry.

“UMB offers a wide plethora of fascinating sites to excite these students and to encourage them to choose careers in health,” said Allison Robinson, MPH, Associate Program Director of the MAHEC. “Whether it’s visiting the nursing simulation lab, School of Pharmacy, or Shock Trauma, we have the resources to support their career goals and help solidify their interests.”

During the anatomy lab workshop, students had the opportunity to examine human anatomic materials related to the neuro, ortho, cardiopulmonary, and organ systems. Current medical students played the role of “Anatomy Lead” to explain the organs and shared stories about their journeys to medical school with students.

“They really seemed to like the anatomy lab and thought that it was cool to look at all of the different muscles in the brain and in the heart,” said Julie Teter, RDH, M.Ed., Program Coordinator of the AHEC West Exploring Careers in Health Occupations Program (ECHO). “It was an exciting experience for them to learn from current medical students and hear how they got to where they are now.”

Students completed Stop the Bleed training after touring Shock Trauma, receiving formal training in the actions necessary to stop uncontrolled bleeding in emergency situations.

“It’s pretty cool that we will have this knowledge, and know how to save lives at such a young age,” said Haddasah S., of Washington County Technical High School. “I currently want to go into ER nursing or Shock Trauma because those are the people that need help immediately, or I might become a travel nurse and help places that don’t have as many resources as we do.”

Reflecting on the day, students shared their favorite parts of the experience and what their hopes are for their careers in health.

“I am very interested in neonatal surgery,” said Audrey M. of Mountain Ridge High School. “The anatomy lab was a great experience and I really enjoyed being able to see organs that are inside of the human body to better understand how they work.”

“In the future, I would like to go into trauma surgery, and it was very interesting to see all of the equipment they use at the Shock Trauma Center,” said Eoin Matteo E. of Northern Garrett High School.

Data collected by MAHEC Program organizers found that 95 percent of students participating in regional career pathways programs reported a greater awareness of health career paths, and 84 percent expressed increased interest in pursuing a health profession.

To learn more about the MAHEC Program and the regional area health education centers visit: www.medschool.umaryland.edu/mahec/