Kamloops student health-care program celebrates milestone

At the heart of the program is the idea of connection: between students and mentors, and between young people and their community.

“By offering your time to a Career Exploration participant, you’re not just showing them your role, but you’re helping them imagine their future,” says Sarah Lauman, coordinator, External Partnerships for the Career Exploration team. “This program would not be possible without staff who happily step up to host students and we’re so grateful for them for sharing their passion and experience with the next generation.”

Throughout the year, students rotate through different hospital departments, giving them insight into both individual roles and how health-care teams work together to provide optimal care.

Pharmacy educator Kylie Rosenberg says the program helps students explore options they may not have previously considered.

“It truly does give students the chance to see many different health-care professions, including roles they may not have been aware of. They can also better understand how health-care professionals collaborate to provide patient care.”

HSA partner and high school teacher Marie Busch sees the impact of the students’ experiences week after week.

“I’m very lucky because I get to hear about the amazing things students experience on their rotations and the impact is immense,” she says. “Many students have deepened their interest in medical careers and even discovered new ones they hadn’t considered.”

She adds that for many students the academy has helped clarify their next steps.

“I’d say that a large majority of students in the HSA are planning on, or have already applied to, nursing or science programs to begin their journey in the field.”

The program also strengthens the connection between education and health care in the Kamloops community.

“This is a great program for sharing real health-care experiences with students nearing graduation,” says Carla Williams, manager, Clinical Operations at RIH. “Inspiring the next generation of health-care professionals is vital to our community, and it’s encouraging to see education and health care working together.”

For the IH employees involved, hosting students is also a chance to support young people as they begin thinking about their future.

“Choosing a career can feel daunting,” Carla adds. “This program helps highlight the wide range of roles required to keep health care running.”

The students left a strong impression on those they worked with.

“The students were just a real pleasure to work with,” Carla smiles. “I sincerely thank them for their professionalism, curiosity and genuine interest in health care.”

Senior leaders at RIH say the program also helps demystify hospital environments for young people while showing them how they can make a difference.

Managers across RIH say they are proud to help give youth in the community a meaningful introduction to health care and the many roles within it.

“There are so many exciting opportunities in health care,” says Nicole Walby, manager, Clinical Operations at RIH. “Exposure to health care and the many roles we offer can encourage students to pursue education in the field and discover where they might fit.”

As this second cohort graduates, the Health Sciences Academy continues to show how early experiences, strong mentorship and meaningful community partnerships can help young people imagine a future in health care.

IH extends a sincere thank you to the many staff members who opened their doors, shared their expertise and supported students throughout the semester.

We provide career exploration experiences for grade 10, 11 and 12 students, as well as high school and post-secondary students, and community members. For questions about Career Exploration, email the recruitment team at CareerExploration@InteriorHealth.ca.

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