Healthcare careers education held at Brooks
The annual Health Care Careers Summer Camp was held during August at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk with 15 students from several area high schools participating.
This free educational program provided the students with an opportunity to learn about healthcare careers first-hand and to shadow health professionals in the field. Students had an extensive tour of Brooks Memorial Hospital, participated in several hands-on activities, and had an opportunity to witness healthcare in a hospital setting. After stringent pre-screening and orientation procedures, and with guidance from several dedicated members of the hospital staff, students were able to observe medical procedures, patient care, surgeries, the birth of a baby and receive CPR Training. Dave Prete from the WNY Rural Area Health Education Center was a presenter at this year's Health Care Careers Summer Camp, providing information about healthcare careers and demonstrating the interactive WNY R-AHEC educational Web site (http://www.rahec.myhealthcareer.org/index.html).
Healthcare careers are projected to be the single fastest growing job segment in the next decade, and Brooks Memorial Hospital is committed to doing everything possible to encourage young people to consider careers in Nursing, Radiology, Pharmacology, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine, Respiratory Therapy, and other healthcare professions.
Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Desiree Coon spearheads many healthcare careers education events at Brooks and also acts as Advisor for the hospitals Medical Explorer Post. "This summer program is a lot of fun for the students, and helps them to learn about the opportunities in healthcare," Coon said. "In addition, Brooks and the community are beginning to reap the benefits as healthcare workers inspired by our Summer Camp are entering the workforce. Brooks actually has former Health Care Career Campers working in the hospital in a variety of positions, including as Registered Nurses."
To learn more about health career education programs at Brooks Memorial Hospital, contact BMH Marketing Director, Desiree Coon at 363-7230.
