Expanding Health Education Horizons
Expanding Healthcare Education
Through K-12 outreach in rural populations, the Rural Medicine Program is committed to reaching the next generation of healthcare professionals and preparing them to return to their rural communities for a meaningful career in the medical field. Since 2021, our K-12 outreach initiatives have touched the lives of many Texas youth.
In partnership with local school district leaders, the program’s K-12 outreach efforts focus on:
- Teaching rural students about healthcare career options through free enrichment activities, including:Mini Med Camp & Regional Rural Med Camp: Immersive experiences for students to learn the ins and outs of healthcare careers
- School to Scrubs Clubs: Resources and programming for students to explore healthcare careers and learn from others’ experiences in the healthcare profession
- Healthcare Literacy: Classroom resources to help promote healthcare literacy among rural students of all ages
- Field Trip Events: Coordination of visits to the College of Medicine to design an interactive field trip for rural students to learn more about medical school pathways
- Virtual Programming: Webinar series and other virtual learning opportunities for students to interact with various healthcare professionals and learn about their career paths
- Providing professional development opportunities for education professionals
Looking ahead, we aim to continue expanding our K-12 programming to enhance college-career readiness and mentoring for rural students who have expressed an interest in a career in healthcare.
Research related to college and career readiness continues to point to early career exposure as instrumental to helping youth determine their future career paths. The K-12 outreach efforts facilitated by the Rural Medicine Program provide students age-appropriate exposure to what a meaningful career in rural healthcare could look like, broadening their horizons and aspirations for post-secondary education.1
- Students who participate in career exploration programs are 30% more likely to graduate high school compared to those who don’t have the same exposure.
- Students with prior career exploration experience are 60% more likely to secure a job in their desired field.