ADA, Okla. - About 600 area high school juniors and seniors got an inside look at a variety of health care careers during the first-ever Community Health Career Fair, conducted at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex Feb. 27.
A joint effort by Valley View Regional Hospital, Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and Pontotoc Technology Center, the event was designed to give local students a chance to explore several health care career options.
"The event was designed to reach out to local youth in hopes of encouraging them to consider a career in the health field," said Kate Bolitho, Human Resources Manager, Chickasaw Nation Health. "We have all worked together to make this event a success."
High school juniors and seniors from Ada, Allen, Byng, Latta, Roff, Sasakwa, Stonewall, Tupelo and Vanoss participated in the event.
Students had opportunities to speak one-on-one with radiology technicians, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists and many other health care professionals and visit booths which exhibited many different direct patient care areas.
Pontotoc Technology Center Practical Nursing students were also on-hand to teach life-saving techniques and demonstrate the proper way to wear personal protective equipment for infection control.
The adult and infant mannequins used to practice hands-on CPR techniques were popular features at the fair, said Jayma Newport, PTC marketing specialist.
That type of hands-on experience offered reassurance to many students who had previously decided to enter the health field.
Jordan Pharr, a Stonewall High School senior, attended the career fair because she has chosen pharmacy as her profession.
Paige Rhoten, a Roff High School senior, plans to pursue a career as an ultrasound technologist after high school.
"I think it would be a fun and rewarding profession," said Rhoten.
Opportunities are plentiful for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that jobs in the field would grow by more than 20 percent from 2010 through 2018, twice the pace for overall U.S. job growth.
The event marked the first high school health care career fair in the Ada area, said Katrina Godfrey, director of Human Resources at Valley View Regional Hospital.
"We were thrilled with student turnout and the excitement they expressed at the event," said Ms. Godfrey. "It is very rewarding to be involved in an event which could impact a young person's decision to pursue a career in healthcare."
The theme for the event was "More Fun Than a Fair." Circus-type activities were set up for the students and Craig Stone from KXFC 105.5 FM (The X-Factor) provided music for the event. Sack races, raffles and giveaways took place every few minutes, and popcorn was donated by Citizens Bank of Ada.
Many resources are available to students interested in a career in the health field.
To explore opportunities in healthcare, please call the Chickasaw Nation Human Resources Office at (580) 436-7259, Valley View Regional Hospital Human Resources Department at (580) 421-1410 or the Pontotoc Technology Center at (580) 310-2200.
