A Front‑Row Seat to Healthcare Careers

More than a dozen students traded summer break for scrubs and stethoscopes at Mary Greeley Medical Center’s High School Healthcare Career Day on July 17. Supported by the Mary Greeley Foundation, the free, day‑long event opened hospital doors—and imaginations—to teens entering ninth through 12th grades.

“When students can see themselves in a lab coat or behind a patient monitor, the idea of a healthcare career becomes real,” says Tammy Stegman, Talent and Engagement Manager. “Hands‑on activities and genuine conversations with professionals help them picture a future they might never have considered in a classroom alone.”

From Blood‑Typing to Baby Care

Participants completed tours and rotated through interactive stations led by a variety of clinical teams. They practiced inserting IV lines into simulation arms, learned how to identify blood type in the lab, and performed the type of ventilation a respiratory therapist manages.

For Zoe Brockman, an upcoming senior at Ames High, the chance to try procedures herself was a game‑changer.

“I liked actually getting the chance to try something instead of just talking about it; you get a better grasp,” she says. Brockman arrived undecided about career paths but left with new interests. “Birth nurses seem pretty cool, and physical therapy looks really interesting—maybe something I’ll pursue.”

Classmate Luis Marin, an incoming junior, was amazed by the behind‑the‑scenes look at patient care.

“Seeing how people find out their blood types, how IVs are injected, how babies are delivered—it was all surprising,” he says. Marin now envisions a career in rehabilitation. “My dad had an accident and went from crutches to walking again through physical therapy. I found that amazing.”

Shining a Light on In‑Demand Fields

Alongside core areas such as nursing and imaging, Mary Greeley spotlighted specialties facing workforce shortages. Respiratory therapy is high on that list.

“Nationwide, we’ve seen a downward trend in respiratory‑therapy graduates since COVID,” says Whitney Clausen, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services, who staffed the RT station. “Inviting students to handle our equipment, run a ventilator simulation, and ask every question they have is one way we’re proactively building the next pipeline of therapists.”

More Than a Tour

Career Day isn’t just about sparking curiosity—it’s part of a broader strategy to cultivate local talent. Students learned about job‑shadow opportunities, Mary Greeley internships, and scholarship programs funded by the Foundation. Lunch with medical center leaders capped the day, giving teens a relaxed forum to discuss college majors, work‑life balance, and entry‑level positions that can lead to long‑term healthcare careers.

“Investing in young people is investing in our region’s health,” Stegman says. “If we can help a 15‑year‑old realize there’s a place for them in medicine—whether at a bedside, in a lab, or behind the scenes—we’ve taken the first step toward a stronger workforce for everyone.”

With budding surgeons, therapists, birth nurses, and lab technologists heading home inspired, High School Healthcare Career Day proved that a single summer Thursday can shape futures—and that the Mary Greeley Foundation’s commitment to workforce development begins long before college.