Envisioning College & Health Care Careers
The Partnership supports Scrubs Camps, created by HealthForce Minnesota, as one way to expose high school students to the experience of going to college to pursue a health care career. Scrubs Camps inspire young people from the Central Corridor neighborhoods to pursue the training and education needed for a career in health care. The Central Corridor Anchor Partnership is proud to host two Urban Scrubs Camps as part of the Partnership’s Workforce Development initiative.
““We never know what session is going to impact which camper but inevitably there is that moment when you see the light bulb go on and you know you’ve made a difference. It might be the adrenaline rush of delivering a baby in the SimBus or the tenderness that comes through giving an elderly resident a hand massage. Maybe it’s the empathy that comes from touring the Amplatz Children’s Hospital or the appreciation of cultural differences that happens through team building. All we know is that it happens all the time at Scrubs Camp.””
These camps offer high school students the opportunity to engage in an immersion experience to explore careers in health and medicine including: dentistry, nursing, public health, physical therapy, biomedical engineering, and much more. Scrubs Camp participants are actively engaged in hands-on sessions, tours of medical facilities, and interact with a variety of practitioners and professionals from the health care field.
“After this experience I am 100% certain that I want to work in the medical field.” - Scrubs Camp participant
Urban Scrubs Camps at Augsburg University and Saint Paul College are supported through donations that provide scholarships to neighborhood youth that allow them to participate. The camps intentionally recruit students from very diverse backgrounds to attend and provide scholarships to cover the cost per student. HealthForce Minnesota, Augsburg University, and Saint Paul College raise scholarships from Central Corridor Anchor Partnership members and from other sources, allowing participation by lower-income students who might not have other opportunities to learn about health care careers. Typically, around 70% of campers receive a scholarship.
“This scholarship has given me the drive and inspiration I needed to really open myself to the world of healthcare.” - Scrubs Camp participant
By using college labs and facilities, attending sessions in college classrooms, and eating meals in the cafeteria, campers have the chance to experience what it is like to be on a college campus. Post-camp surveys have confirmed that this experience has been transformative for most participants, sparking interest in particular health careers and inspiring students to pursue higher education.
“This camp made me discover what I want to do in the future! Thank you!” - Scrubs Camp participant
Image courtesy of HealthForce Minnesota