Health Science Connnection for Montana Educators

You work every day to inspire, challenge and encourage your students to learn, explore, and achieve their dreams. Where will they be in 5, 10, 20 years?

Did you know...

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven of the twenty fastest-growing occupations nationally are in the healthcare field. An estimated three million new healthcare workers will be needed in the workforce over the coming decade. Here in Montana alone, over 34,000 individuals are currently employed in healthcare, and an additional 7,600 healthcare professionals are expected to be needed by 2016. Additionally, nine of the top ten highest paying jobs in Montana are in the healthcare industry.

From hospitals and physicians' offices to nursing homes and home health care, from medical and diagnostic labs to outpatient clinics, from urban centers to rural, tribal, and even international settings- healthcare is unmatched in the breadth of opportunities available to students prepared for these careers. And healthcare professions provide higher-than-average wages; in fact, certain health professions - like Pharmacy Tech, Physical Therapy Assistant, and others - typically earn over $30,000 a year with just two years of post-high-school training!

Students who are well-informed about career opportunities, and prepared for those opportunities,will be able to be part of Montana's homegrown healthcare workforce.

This E-News is being sent to you by the Montana Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in hope of opening a dialogue about Health Science Education for the K-12 students of Montana. Through this newsletter we hope to:

1) build a shared resource of activities, materials, and lesson plans to draw on in teaching the health sciences

2) highlight the cross-curriculum nature of the health sciences

3) build an interest in and awareness of health career paths for students in the state of Montana

HOSA Students Shine at Annual Conference

Health Science Education
in Action

On Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, over 80 students and teachers from high schools across the state convened in Missoula for the annual Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Conference.

Founded in 1976, HOSA is a national student organization with nearly 100,000 members, including students in high school, post-secondary, college, and adult education health science programs. Says Montana OPI HOSA Coordinator Renee Harris, "HOSA's mission [promoting career opportunities in the health care industry, and supporting students in preparing for these careers] is so critical today.. there is such a shortage of health care professionals here in Montana."

But HOSA does not focus solely on the skills health professionals need-- rather, HOSA emphasizes attitudes and aptitudes -- teamwork, critical thinking, empathy and caring, and responsibility-- that will enable students to be successful in whatever path they choose.

Students attending the HOSA conference participated in 32 competitive events such as CPR/1st Aid; Epidemiology; Biomedical Debate; Nursing Assisting; Medical Photography; Physical Therapy; Biotechnology, and more. They also attended a wide range of educational symposiums, including heart dissection at the International Heart Institute; a tour of Saint Patrick Hospital; a visit to the Physical Therapy Clinics, Pharmacy Practice Lab, and a Neuroscience Lab at UM's College of Health Professions; a tour of the State Crime Lab; a demonstration of the College of Technology's Nursing Simulator Manikins; and a nutrition lesson from the Culinary Arts department at the College of Technology. Said Robin Hollin, Health Science Specialist and HOSA Chapter advisor, "For me, one of the more interesting aspects of the conference was the wide variety of quality educational symposiums offered to the students. I loved the "Sim Man/ Sim Baby" demonstration at the College of Technology. My students really enjoyed the International Heart Institute and the Crime Lab as well. These experiences are invaluable to students as they put a "real world" application to what they are learning in the classroom or as part of their HOSA project."

For more information about HOSA or to find out about starting a chapter at YOUR school, contact Renee Harris, OPI Health Sciences Education Specialist and HOSA Advisor (444-2059) or rharris3@mt.gov

Continuing Education Opportunity of the Month

Science Topics & Career Choices

Eli Lilly and Company offers a variety of interactive distance learning experiences for K-12 students and organizations across the nation via the use of videoconferencing and online programs.