Choosing the right career field can be difficult — especially when it comes to the variety of options in health care. To help future professionals explore paths and gain meaningful experience, Regional West partners with local schools to offer a job shadow program. Each spring and fall, Regional West Human Resources specialist Linda Alfred coordinates with educators from local and surrounding area high schools to identify students who are interested in health care.
After they are interviewed by their school and have successfully completed the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Regional West Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) confidentiality requirements, Alfred places students in both clinical and non-clinical areas, based on their interests. Students get to observe the daily routines of Regional West’s professionals and hone skills like interviewing and writing a resume. Some students come into the program knowing what health care field they want to study and flourish in the environment, while others may end up pursuing a different path.
Some are undecided but find that Regional West offers much more variety than they initially thought. “I meet with students frequently throughout the time that they shadow, and I let them know that I can help them with questions or career ideas,” Alfred said. “My favorite was a student who was certain that she was going to be a pediatric physician.
After she completed a few observations, she was so amaz.