New program helping high school students get exposure to healthcare careers

A new week long program is helping high school students get experience before they make a leap down a career path later on in life.

Blood-typing, patient interactions and ER scenarios are all part of the Healthcare Summer Program for 9th through 12th graders at Kadlec.

"I think that it is incredibly important to give them the exposure, because for so many of us, even if we chose healthcare we may be five years into that decision before we realize how many opportunities outside of the one single choice we made, that there actually are," says Mackey.

Director of nursing services Christina Mackey adds this is the first year of the program and 42 students took part. Kadlec will be hosting another similar week-long program but there is a wait list. Mackey says she believes the hospital will be looking at continuing this program each summer.