ProHealth Care has worked with partners in education for many years to help students explore a variety of health care careers. Presentations, tours and other opportunities have helped students learn and make connections with ProHealth as a major local employer.
 
A new career pathways program coordinated by the Waukesha Family Medicine Residency at ProHealth Care provides job shadowing and mentoring for local high school students interested in health care careers. It’s designed for students enrolled in Waukesha South High School’s Academy of Health Professions. Many academy students aspire to be the first in their families to attend college.
 
ProHealth physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, social workers, interpreters, X-ray technicians and medical laboratory specialists engage with the students in the program. Job shadowing takes place in a clinical setting. Students can choose an occupation of interest and meet with mentors individually to discuss career and college options, and how to complete college and scholarship applications.
 
Field trips, workshops and events are scheduled to introduce the students to special topics including human anatomy, basic life support, first aid and suturing. Transportation is provided by ProHealth. Dinners include time to network. Parents are invited to events that include discussions about careers and education options.
 
Ten students benefitted from the mentoring program in its first year.  
 
“The whole program is very good,” one student said. “I like getting the opportunity to visit patients and to see what a career in this profession would be like.”