Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville hosted a Boys & Girls Club Hospital Career Day on July 14. Six students and three program chaperones from the Boys & Girls Club in Booneville, Mississippi, spent the day touring the hospital and learning about nonclinical and health care careers.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this event was watching students discover career opportunities they had never considered before,” said Edith Boren, training and development specialist for Baptist Booneville. “The experience helped students see that health care offers career paths that match different interests and skill sets. We are proud to help inspire the next generation by giving them a firsthand look at the many paths available in health care.”
The experience emphasized hands-on learning and provided students with opportunities to interact with team members across multiple departments. Highlights included the following:
- Outpatient Therapy: Students paired up to participate in physical, occupational and speech therapy activities.
- Baptist Medical Group: Participants learned about the many clinical and support roles involved in providing outpatient care.
- Accounting: Students discovered the important financial functions that support hospital operations.
- Health Information Management: Staff explained the vital roles of medical records, billing and coding.
- Human Resources: Students learned about career development, the importance of integrity and how social media can affect future employment opportunities.
- Respiratory Therapy: Participants observed a ventilator demonstration using a mannequin and learned about respiratory care.
- Laboratory: Students explored specimen collection and learned how laboratory professionals support patient care, including blood transfusion processes.
- Surgery: The group experienced a simulated laparoscopic surgery activity and gained insight into surgical careers.
- Medical-Surgical unit: Students toured a patient room and learned how many departments — including nursing, maintenance, IT and biomedical services — work together to provide quality patient care.
- Pharmacy: The group learned about pharmacy careers and observed demonstrations showing how medications are prepared and managed.
- Radiology: Students learned about diagnostic imaging and the important role radiology professionals play in helping physicians diagnose and treat patients.
- Admissions: Participants learned about the admissions process and the vital role staff play in ensuring patients are registered accurately and receive the assistance they need when entering the health care system.
The day concluded with lunch and a group discussion in which students reflected on what they learned and asked questions.
“Many students expressed surprise at the wide variety of careers available within health care,” Boren said. “Prior to the event, most students were only familiar with a few clinical roles. The activities helped students learn that health care is about much more than doctors and nurses — it takes a diverse team of professionals working together to care for our community.”
