Professionals working in healthcare recently delivered an exciting, hands-on forum called Spectrum to regional high school students.
Lead by Healthkick Huron and the Foundation for Education Perth Huron, the event was built to encourage students (Grades 10 to 12 ) from Huron Perth to consider careers in rural healthcare and to showcase the vast scope of healthcare-related fields within the region.
“Many of us, when we think of healthcare careers, think of traditional models, for example: nurses, doctors, dentists, etc”, states event coordinator Dianne McCabe. “However, there is an abundance of opportunities available in the health sector that are exciting, interesting and vital to the total ‘spectrum’ of the healthcare team and this day is set to demonstrate these.”
The day involved nine professionals from the traditional and extended healthcare family giving interactive rotating presentations to small groups throughout the day.
Included on the roster was Dr. Carolin Shepherd (Family Physician), Trudy Jonkman (Wellness Coordinator), Elizabeth McMurray (Registered Nurse), Joanne Polkiewicz (Pharmacist), Hollie Graham (Registered Massage Therapist), Rebecca Blane (Registered Dietitian), Colleen Ryan (Public Health Inspector), Trina O’Rourke (Dental Hygienist) and Danielle Lozier (Registered Nurse).
The Skills Opportunities Showcase Trailer was also on hand to highlight other fields within healthcare.
“It was purposely a concentrated career event” states Wes MacVicar from the Foundation for Education. “It was designed to give up close and personal direction to kids that have an interest in entering the healthcare field and, hopefully, plants the seed of possibility to practise their art back home”
Additional partners in developing this event included Passport to Prosperity, The Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Huron Business Development Corporation, SWOMEN and the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
Spectrum took place Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Huron County Health Unit Auditorium, Clinton.