Multiple Pathways to a Health Care Career
Inspiring the next generation of medical professionals
Written by Laura Roe Stevens
Nearly 180 local high school students gathered at Torrance Memorial Medical Center on December 9 to learn about options for working in the health care industry. At the first annual Healthcare Career Exploration Day, Torrance high school students met with physicians, nurses, medical staff, and medical device and pharmaceutical vendor reps who gave presentations and provided live-action demonstrations.
The hands-on activities were a big hit among the students. These insightful exercises included teaching students how to use a da Vinci surgical robot, which is used for minimally invasive surgeries; demonstrating how to operate ultrasound equipment and accurately read the results; working with pharmacy specialists to compound medicine; teaching students how to draw medicine with a syringe; exploring 3D technology; and demonstrating an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine which delivers electric shock to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
“We were excited to collaborate with the Torrance Unified School District and to connect with the students to inspire and educate them about the various career opportunities within the health care industry,” says Andrew Lee, PhD, director of health equity and talent management at Torrance Memorial. “Our vision is to help them learn, explore and grow. And we hope to build a long-term relationship and to spark interest too, as there is a dire need for talented people to enter the health care field.”
In fact, an additional 500,000 new health care professionals—including medical assistants and imaging specialists—are needed in the state, according to the California Hospital Association (CHA). The CHA report estimates more than 22% of Californians live in areas lacking sufficient primary care providers. While the South Bay may not qualify as one of those areas, Lee says Torrance Memorial needs more health care professionals as it continues to grow and meet community needs.
One of the daunting aspects of pursuing a medical career is the rising costs of higher education. This event highlighted the many careers outside traditional medical or nursing school routes, including positions within radiology, pharmacology, physical and occupational therapy, technology, finance and security.
Makenna Esparza, a sophomore at North High School, said the event was eye-opening. “Before this (career exploration day), I was a little lost. I knew I wanted to pursue a medical career, but this event gave me clarity,” Makenna says. “And it showed me there are more openings in what I want to do.”
In a post-event survey, students agreed overwhelmingly the Healthcare Career Exploration Day was a success and provided valuable information. When asked what their favorite parts of the day were, one student replied: “Everything! Especially about radiology and the IT health care information.”
Most students agreed the hands-on booths were a highlight. One student wrote: “My favorite part was dealing with the robotics and with the virtual reality [equipment]. I now know what path I will take during and after high school.”
For the health care professionals and educators who worked so hard to put the Torrance Memorial Healthcare Career Exploration Day together, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Torrance Memorial Physicians Teach Biomedical Series
Did you know that both El Segundo High School and Da Vinci High School have biomedical pathway classes? Or that Torrance Memorial physicians and clinical educators volunteer their time to teach these students monthly? It’s all part of Torrance Memorial’s outreach effort to inspire the next generation of health care workers, says Mary Ford, coordinator of community outreach for the hospital.
“This series is amazing. One month, respiratory therapist Anthony Co brought in a case study of a child with asthma,” Mary explains. “The students developed an action plan and a rescue as part of their third-year study in the biomedical pathway series. That was huge. The students got so much out of it.”
