Health professions cater to high schools
Nate Billings

Staff Writer

 

Area high school students will be given the opportunity to explore Missouri Southern s Heath Care Professions Friday, Nov. 1.

The Health Care Professions Day will include videos and presentations by faculty members involved in nursing, dental and other health professions provided by Southern. Current students who are enrolled in the programs will also give their views and experiences during the day. The event will be the second time the College has had a health professions day.

 The day gives students and parents a chance to see the profession they like,  said Dr. Barbara Box, director of the department of nursing.

Box said there is a shortage of health care professionals. She said many people ask the current students why they have gone through the courses after the students describe what is involved in the health care majors. She said 41 freshmen were nursing majors at Fresh Start.

The event is designed for any high school student interested in Southern or health care.

 It s giving those students a chance to showcase the campus,  said Mark Lloyd, coordinator of the event.

Lloyd said the event will give high school students a chance they might not otherwise have to see and experience campus life.

 One of the great things about it is that the faculty does it,  Lloyd said.

He said the deans and heads of departments will do presentations and a few alumni of the health programs will come and speak as well.

The day will begin around 12:30 p.m. College President Julio Le n will talk to the students at the beginning of the presentations. The students will break into groups and be taken to different sessions about the different health departments. At the end of the day the students, will take a tour of the campus.

Last year, around 100 students attended. This year around 50 are expected.

 We d like, of course, to have more students come,  Lloyd said.

He also said even if the students are only slightly interested in health care, the day will let them see if Southern  fits  them.