This year, the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center had the pleasure of hosting high school students from across Washington State for our fourth annual Outreach Learning Series: Career Development Day. This event provided an incredible opportunity for students to connect with peers from local high schools and engage directly with healthcare professionals across a variety of fields. Additionally, two YOUTH-Reach students visited from Eastern Washington, adding a unique perspective to the group. In total, over thirty 11th – 12th grade students and teachers from Rainer Beach and Jenkins High School visited the HIPRC.
Participants gained valuable insights into careers in emergency medicine, physical and occupational therapy, social work, respiratory therapy, and paramedicine. In addition to learning from experts, students participated in hands-on activities that gave them a practical understanding of these healthcare roles. From practicing CPR techniques to exploring medical equipment and procedures, these interactive experiences brought the learning to life and deepened their understanding.
The focus of this Learning Series Event was to teach high schoolers about careers in medicine, while giving them a hands-on learning experience. The events and activities throughout the event, provided a particular focus to careers that students might encounter at a Level 1 Trauma Center and with an injury and violence prevention lens. The HIPRC is honored to play a role in inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders, fostering curiosity, and providing the tools needed to explore diverse career pathways. This event was supported by foundry10.
Participant Reflections:
“This program is an amazing opportunity to gain knowledge on the different aspects of the healthcare field. The program taught me how all areas of the healthcare field work together to help people. I got to experience Seattle for the first time and got a tour of the University of Washington. This program was an eye-opener for how many opportunities are out there and how anyone can find their path in the medical field. It is a great opportunity to see what you can do outside of your area.”
“It was incredible to meet professionals who are so passionate about their work and willing to share their stories with us.”
“The overall experience was amazing. I had a great time getting to learn about the different careers and loved the hands-on experience. This visit has shown me that there are so many opportunities and that everyone starts somewhere, so why not start now.”
