Group hopes to interest students in health care careers

High school students and their counselors from the region will learn about opportunities in health care at the third annual Health Care Career Day on Friday, Nov. 17, at Pittsburg State University. The event is sponsored by the Four-States Health Professions Consortium and the PSU Department of Nursing.

Organizers have planned a full day of activities for the students and their teachers. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. in McPherson Hall. Throughout the day, various exhibitors will have displays. Participants may choose to attend career-specific sessions on careers in or as: medical doctor, nursing, operating room technologist, radiation technology, dentistry, occupational and physical therapy, laboratory, psychology, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, emergency medical technologist, flight nurse and paramedics. St. John's Regional Medical Center, and Freeman Health System in Joplin are scheduled to bring in their life flight helicopters and Crawford County EMS in Pittsburg will bring in the ambulances for tours between 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Activities are expected to conclude at 2:45 p.m.

The Four States Health Professions Consortium was created in 2001 in order to address the current and future health care shortages in the Four-State area. The consortium consists of representatives from hospitals, academic institutions, public health, area health education centers, local businesses and legislators.

Consortium members include: Barton County Memorial Hospital, Lamar, Mo.; Cox Health System, Springfield, Mo.; Freeman Health System, Joplin, Mo.; Hospital District #1, Girard, Kan.; McCune Brooks Hospital, Carthage, Mo.; Missouri Rehab Center, Mt. Vernon, Mo.; Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, Mo.; St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo.; St. John's Health System, Springfield, Mo.; Crowder College, Joplin and Neosho, Mo.; Forest Institute, Springfield, Mo.; Franklin Technology Center, Joplin, Mo.; Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Mo.; Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan.; Missouri State University., Springfield, Mo.; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fayetteville, Ark.; Northeast Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, Okla.; Area Health Education Center NW, Fayetteville, Ark.; SWMO Area Health Education Center, Springfield, Mo.; Economic Development, Neosho, Mo.; Joplin Chamber of Commerce, Joplin, Mo.; SW Workforce Investment Board, Joplin, Mo.; Gary Little, Healthcare Consultant, Seneca, Mo.; City of Neosho, Mo.

For more information, please call the PSU Department of Nursing at 620-235-4431.

---Pitt State---