Twenty-six high school juniors and seniors have been in Billings this week to get an up-close look at health care careers. It’s one of five MedStart Summer Camps held around the state to develop the next generation of health care providers.
Medstart gives these students an opportunity to explore skilled health care careers beyond being a doctor or nurse – careers that may require less schooling and less of a financial outlay says Nikole Bakko. She’s with the Eastern Montana Area Health Education Center, the group that funds the camp.
"So maybe certificate type schools, two year instead of four year schools," says Backko. "But really opening their eyes about what health care is and what the vast majority of it is and what they can do."
The students visited RiverStone Health, Saint Vincent Healthcare, Billings Clinic, MSU-Billings City College and Rocky Mountain College. They got to learn about areas such as X-ray, radiology and dental technology, rehabilitation, emergency preparedness and first responder training.
Sampling these job possibilities is what drew Ashlynn Allen, a Billings Skyview High School senior to the camp.
"I just wanted to explore different medical possibilities opportunities. I already have a job. I’m going into the Navy. So instead of full-out picking a job in the medical fields, I want to see if it’s the right choice for me," Allen says.
John Zink, a Shepherd High School Senior, is leaning towards an emergency medical career.
"I’m very interested in the medical field," Zink says. "I love anatomy, I love physiology. And I heard, I was suggested that this camp that it would be a good start to get into the medical field."
Nikole Bakko says the camps help to bring students into the health care field.
"Most of the students, 74 percent I believe, are going into some kind of health care career," Bakko says.
According to data from Big Sky Economic Development, 16 percent of Billings employment is from the health care industry, and 20 percent of total payroll.
"It’s important to grow out Montana workforce and this is a great program to do it," Bakko says.
