Our staff members and volunteers encourage and assist community youngsters as they pursue careers in health care.

Internships and Externships
High School students whose class work demonstrates to school counselors their desire to pursue a health-care career are eligible for internships and externships with a health-care professional. Programs last 75 hours, a semester or a school year.

Before an appropriate business partner is approached to participate, the student candidates are thoroughly screened to ensure that they understand the commitment necessary to participate. A school counselor or sponsoring teacher must understand and take responsibility for all legal and liability issues.

Job Shadowing
Job shadowing provides a match between a high school student and a health-care professional for a one-day, on-the-job experience. Often this visit either reinforces the student’s interest in the career or eliminates it as an option.

Group Career Exploration
Group Career Exploration Days allow groups of up to 25 high school students to spend a school day exploring health careers. The students meet with health-care professionals, who provide “a day in the life” perspective of the positions; and human resources professionals, who discuss the future of the health-care industry and identify high-demand positions. The one-day sessions occur twice annually: once in February during Groundhog Job Shadow Day and on a second day to be determined.

Community Partnerships
We call upon our community partners to deliver career information in a classroom setting or career fair.

• Barnes-Jewish Hospital
• Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health
• Missouri Baptist Medical Center
• Regional Commerce and Growth Association
• St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• St. Louis Community College
• University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Nursing (previously known as Barnes College)
• Washington University School of Medicine

Additional Opportunities for Youth Pursuing Health-Care Careers
Hospital Tours
Student Volunteers
Résumé Writing
Interviewing Skills
Medical Professional Visits to Schools