Geisinger welcomes teens to learn about health care

Anna Wiest, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Oct. 13—DANVILLE — High school students from nine local districts were introduced to careers in health care Friday.

Geisinger's AiM HI (Aspirations in Medicine and Healthcare Initiatives) program welcomed almost 100 students from Benton, Berwick, Central Columbia, Danville, Mifflinburg, Milton, Mount Carmel, Shikellamy and Southern Columbia.

The students had the opportunity to take a close look at nursing, community health, sports medicine, infection prevention and control and radiology through interactive sessions all hosted by Geisinger staff.

Shikellamy junior Aidan Spencer attended the program for the second year Friday and said last year's emergency medicine course made him want to return.

"This is a great opportunity for kids to know what their options are and explore the field of health care," Spencer said.

Geisinger Director of Volunteer Services Tina McDowell said the career exploration program is a partnership between the medical center and school districts.

"Schools have to provide students with so many hours of career exploration," McDowell said. "And it also gives us a chance to recruit."

This if the sixth year of the AiM HI program and saw more districts and students than ever before. The Mifflinburg Area School District was back for the first time in a while and brought more students than any other, according to McDowell.

Shikellamy guidance counselor Lisa Pfleegor said the program is a great opportunity for students. "I want students to be aware of the opportunities out there is they are interested in health care," Pfleegor said.

Within Friday's various seminars, Geisinger staff encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunities in the field of health care. "If you take advantage of this opportunity, it exposes you to an entire world of opportunities," Gordon Cole, R.N., said. "Getting this kind of exposure is so important."

Erin Baker, R.N., said working at Geisinger in Danville is a unique experience. "We are in the middle of nowhere, but it's actually special because of the things we get to see because we are so rural," she said.