Boosting Interest in Healthcare Careers: An Update from ITCH

Submitted by Ruth Ann Jones, Former (retired) VP of Nursing

Overview

Introduction to Careers in Healthcare (ITCH) has been very active over the last year. The ITCH team has dedicated significant energy to expanding opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers. By collaborating closely with school career coaches and local healthcare professionals, we have broadened our outreach and enhanced our programming to better serve the evolving needs of our community.

Program Highlights

Through multiple cohorts and partnerships, we have reached over 300 new students, including:

• Fall 2024: Weekly Monday evening classes at Building African American Minds (BAAM).
• Late fall and early winter: Two weekly afternoon sessions with Tilghman Area Youth Association (TAYA).
• March 2025: ITCH participated in the Talbot County Health Department Fair.
• Lunch and Learn: Hosted at Saints Peter and Paul High School in Easton to introduce students to ITCH.
• STEM Program Collaboration: Supported the high school leadership team in developing healthcare curriculum, locating supplies, and curating educational websites.
• Summer 2025: Partnered with the Summer Career Enrichment Program (SCEP) for daily student groups, with special thanks to Dean Serino (pre-Dental @ Purdue) and Grace Serino (pre-Med @ UMD) for their mentorship.
• Career Clubs: Launched at three Shore Regional Health sites — UM SRH Cambridge, UM SMC Easton, and UM SMC Chestertown. Activities included career exploration, hands-on learning, success pathways, scholarship info, and a Chesapeake College Health Sciences tour.

Special gratitude goes to Cassandra Bilbrough (Chestertown), AnnMarie Hernandez (Cambridge), Wynne Aroom (Easton), and David Timms (Chesapeake College).

We now have Career Clubs in five SRH locations, with new facilitators: Steve Eiseman (UM SMP Denton), Lisa Lisle (SEC Queenstown), and Nicole Leonard (SMC Easton). Ongoing discussions with healthcare institutions and educators continue to expand these collaborations.

Expanding Our Mission

Our mission now includes high school students in addition to middle schoolers. We’ve strengthened partnerships with Career Coaches across the five-county region to facilitate shadowing experiences and “career buddy” mentorships.

Online Resources

Our website — www.itchmed.org — keeps students, parents, and the community informed about:

• Career pathway information
• Healthcare exploration resources
• Scholarship opportunities

Looking Ahead

Our partnerships with local experts and institutions are deepening, providing students with greater access to mentorship, hands-on learning, and real-world experience. By nurturing curiosity and equipping students with essential skills, ITCH continues to inspire a new generation of compassionate, knowledgeable healthcare professionals.

Volunteering & Contact

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about volunteering with ITCH, please contact Ruth Ann Jones, ITCH Coordinator, at ruthann@itchmed.org.