Alegent Health Awards Scholarships to Teens Interested in Healthcare Field
05/02/2005
(Council Bluffs, IA)�Twenty-four high school seniors from Council Bluffs interested in pursuing a career in the health care industry will be recognized at a breakfast Thursday, May 5, at 7:45am, in the rotunda at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital. The teens are part of the local chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), a national student organization that seeks to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry and to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people. "During the recognition breakfast, $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to two students in the Council Bluffs program,� said Suzanne Nocita, operations leader for workforce planning at Alegent Health.
Alegent Health Mercy Hospital has had a long-term partnership with the Council Bluffs HOSA program. Nocita credits Vicki Leaders, HOSA instructor with the success of the program and says that Ms. Leaders sets high expectations for the students and is an excellent role model for them. I know students who have gone on to become doctors, nurses, even hospital administrators due to their involvement in HOSA,� said Leaders. This valuable training gives these teens a head-start in their future careers.�
The HOSA program is open to students who attend high schools in the Council Bluffs area including Lewis Central, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and St. Albert. A total of 48 students are enrolled in the program and earn high school and college credits for completing the various classes beginning their junior year. The course is designed to provide transferable skills and technical expertise while introducing a core set of skills that may be applicable to many healthcare disciplines. The curriculum blends medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and disease processes. In addition, students job-shadow various departments at Mercy Hospital two days a week.
The job shadow offers the students a real-life glimpse of what really goes on in surgery, the emergency department, and even labor and delivery,� said Leaders. Through this opportunity, they can get a better idea of whether this is a particular field they�re cut out for.�
To learn more information on HOSA, visit www.hosa.org
