AAMC’s High School Exploration Program encourages kids to consider a career in healthcare: “It’s literally the coolest thing I have ever done”

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Monica Mewshaw

In an effort to inspire our community’s young people to consider a career in health care, AAMC started the High School Health Care Exploration Program. Now in its tenth year, the “camp” fills up months in advance — in fact this year, we received over 120 applications! Attendees, in many cases, go on to declare college majors in nursing, pre-med, physical therapy, and the sciences.

This June, 12 students from area high schools attended the four-day program, providing them with a first hand, behind-the-scenes look at health care career options.

During the camp, the high schoolers were CPR certified, practiced basic assessment skills in our simulation lab, toured the ED, learned about ambulance and helicopter transport and spent time with AAMC staff on several units. A huge thank you to coordinators Gena Kosmides and Alex Bennof, as well as chaparones Juli Pastrana and Rachel Hall.

Here, the students tell us what they most enjoyed about the High School Health Care Exploration Program:

“I wish this could be all summer!”

“This was a really great program and I’m so grateful for the experiences I have had throughout this program. It was very informative and AAMC seems like an amazing place to work.”

“It was a wonderful program and I had so much fun.”

“I really enjoyed this program and experience and how hands-on it was. Thank you!”

“This was literally the coolest thing I have ever done. I love the program. Also, all the chaperones are awesome!”