Introduction to Careers in Healthcare Following a Career Pathway

Introduction to Careers in Healthcare (ITCH) is an organization that has been created to spark an interest in health careers among middle and high school students. In turn, this will support our community healthcare system by employing our local youth. It is hoped that once students are exposed to the wide array of careers, they will be able to follow a clear pathway that will lead to successful completion of preparation for a career in healthcare.

The vision of ITCH is to have students attend presentations through joining a Career Club. These clubs will be available throughout the mid-shore region during the school year. Sessions will meet monthly for a five-month period, running from September through January and February through June. Programming will seek to introduce careers that students are interested in as well as professions they may not have considered. Some elementary skills will also be taught during these sessions. Additional programming may be available; however, students from all public, private, and home schools are encouraged to attend the Career Clubs. Club information and registration can be found on the ITCH website and will be distributed to school guidance and career counselors.

Once students complete a Career Club session, they will be introduced to opportunities for shadowing and internships/externships through the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health. This program will help students define more clearly what they may be interested in by seeing professionals in action. Another support in place is for students to be assigned a Career Buddy. It is highly recommended that students first complete the Career Club and participate in a shadowing experience. This portion of our program is designed to connect a student with very focused career goals to a healthcare professional. This relationship will serve as support to strengthen and maintain the student's interest in a career in healthcare.

This one-on-one relationship will serve as personal encouragement support. It is not intended to replace school or parental guidance for higher education entry but to give insight into aspects of their chosen field of study. Discussion points may include educational choices, professional challenges and rewards, and questions or concerns that the students may have regarding their field of study choice.

Lastly, ITCH has compiled an ongoing scholarship resource that can be accessed on our ITCH website: www.itchmed.org. Not all students will follow all steps of this Career Pathway, but it is the hope of the ITCH organization that we may help foster interest in healthcare careers and assist students in reaching their career goals.