RhPAP Skills Event will introduce SW Alberta high school students to rural health careers
An upcoming health–care careers exploration day is intended to open eyes, and possibly doors, to local high school students considering careers in health.
An RhPAP High School Health Skills event will be taking place on April 12, 2019 at the Pincher Creek Health Centre. The event is hosted by the new Pincher Creek health professions attraction and retention committee, with the goal to expose rural students to various health-care careers.
Research on the rural health workforce shows that the two biggest predictors of who will work in rural communities are those that either grow up rurally, or have been exposed to rural practice during their studies. In addition to attracting and retaining health-care professionals, this new committee hopes to spark interest in health–care careers amongst the community’s youth, supporting local students, and the future rural health-care workforce.
Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Piikani Nation, and Lundbreck high school students will be taking part in the event, where they will have the opportunity to learn about health care in a rural environment, and receive instruction in basic skills from local health providers.
Students will receive a tour of Pincher Creek Health Centre to learn about the different departments. Participants will be trying their hand at several essential medical skills including ultrasound, suturing, EMS, and respiratory therapy.
During the event, students are introduced to future mentors, and potential career opportunities in rural Alberta. AHS Indigenous Health Liaison, Tawnya Crowshoe, and Recreation Therapist, Lora Schultz, will be present to talk to students about further health career options, and the Spirit of Art and Reconciliation (SOAR) program. Maddison Shortreed, AHS Volunteer Coordinator, will also be on hand to discuss volunteer and mentorship opportunities for students.
RhPAP Health Skills Events
RhPAP Health Skills events, including Skills Days and Skills Weekends for high school and post-secondary students, are sponsored by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP), and are scheduled in rural Alberta communities throughout the year by the RhPAP Rural Community Consultant team
For more information please contact
Julie Davis
Rural Community Consultant- South Zone
Rural Health Professions Action Plan
Tel: 587-220-6644
julie.davis@rhpap.ca
Jonathan Koch
Director, Communications and Marketing Rural Health Professions Action Plan
Tel: 587-987-4325
jonathan.koch@rhpap.ca