HERMISTON, Ore.-The third annual Future of Healthcare Conference was held in Hermiston on February 25.
Hundreds of students attended the conference hosted by Hermiston High School’s Health Science Pathway program at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC).
“Who knows what they want to do right now in healthcare?” Art Mathisen, President and CEO of Good Shepherd Health Care System, the title sponsor of the conference, asked students in attendance, before explaining that life and career paths are often non-linear. “You may know what you want to do but keep your eyes and ears open to other things today. Listen well, learn and think 20 years out.”
The Future of Healthcare conference included college and healthcare industry professionals, as well as hands-on opportunities for students to connect with and engage with different healthcare fields.
Future of Healthcare Conference
“It’s good for students to be able to learn hands-on skills and experience the college and industry fair to connect with people who teach in these healthcare programs,” said Janci Sivey, Health Sciences teacher at Hermiston High School.
Healthcare program representatives from several colleges, including Oregon State University’s School of Nursing, Columbia Basin College’s Nursing Program and Blue Mountain Community College’s (BMCC) Medical Assist Program, were on hand to provide students with information.
“I’m interested in becoming a travel nurse, and this conference is a great opportunity to explore healthcare environments and careers,” said Alexiah Seibel, a junior at Hermiston High School, who hopes to attend Washington State University. “I’m hoping to get advice about what classes to take and the opportunities out there.”
Organizations such as Interpath Laboratory, Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center, Umatilla County Fire District #1, Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Care, Family Health Associates, Umatilla County Health and Eastern Oregon Physical Therapy, and many other healthcare organizations were on hand to interact with students and provide information and guidance.
Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) representatives introduced students to the variety of jobs available in healthcare at the conference, including doctors, nurses, medical assistants, phlebotomists, and hospital administration.
“Healthcare is a passion and a calling for most of us,” said Mathisen, in his remarks encouraging students to take a broad view of the healthcare industry. “We have over 75 different healthcare specialties at Good Shepherd.”
Good Shepherd partners with the Health Sciences program at Hermiston High School, allowing students to participate in on-site clinical job shadows, giving them an up-close look at the day-to-day responsibilities of health care professionals.
Students attending the Future of Healthcare conference were also able to participate in workshops and competitions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and phlebotomy, and attend job interview contests.
“I hope to be an ultrasound technician or an ER Nurse, so I came to the conference to experience the programs and connect with people in those areas,” said Olivia Trujillo, a sophomore at Hermiston High, who has been considering a career in healthcare for about a year-and-a-half and is planning on attending Oregon State University.
Hermiston High School Health Science Pathway
Now in its third year, the Future of Healthcare Conference continues to grow with different workshops and organizations participating and more students attending each year, according to Sivey.
Hermiston High School’s Health Science Pathway program is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway and is part of the Oregon Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA), however, most events and conferences are on the west side of the state.
“There’s not a lot of programs in Eastern Oregon, and we didn’t want to have to travel for everything,” said Sivey. “We have a community that supports our students, and the main goal of the conference was to stay local.”
There are about 300 students in Hermiston High School’s Health Science Pathway program, according to Sivey, although not every student stays in for all four years, and between 30 and 50 students complete the program each year.
The Health Science Pathway Program has four sections, an introduction that students take freshman year, followed by Healthcare I sophomore year, that covers general healthcare practices and useful skills.
Healthcare II during junior year focuses on emergency care, such as CPR, how to stop bleeding and nursing, as well as anatomy and physiology courses.
Students taking Healthcare III can earn Phlebotomy Certification, with between 30 and 40 students expected to earn their certifications this year, according to Sivey.
“The future of healthcare starts here,” said Sivey. “It’s an uphill battle, not a straight line.”
