Students from Blount County Schools and other area school systems stepped inside the world of healthcare during the Healthcare Discovery Event held September 3 at Prisma Health Blount Memorial Hospital.
The event connected students with healthcare professionals, colleges, universities, and technical training programs while giving them opportunities to experience healthcare careers firsthand. Throughout the approximately two-and-a-half-hour visit, students explored career options, learned about educational pathways, and participated in realistic healthcare simulations.
In the Career Hall, students met one-on-one with professionals representing a variety of healthcare fields. A Career Hall Challenge encouraged students to visit each table and ask a different question at every stop, helping them learn about daily responsibilities, required education, and potential career opportunities.
Students also visited the Community Partner Hall, where representatives from colleges and technical schools shared information about healthcare degrees, certification programs, dual enrollment, scholarships, camps, and other resources.
Participating organizations included Pellissippi State Community College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville, South College, Roane State Community College, the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, Lincoln Memorial University and Maryville College. Prisma Health Blount Memorial programs and its VolunTeen program were also represented.
One of the highlights of the event was a tour of Prisma Health Blount’s new Simulation Center. Students rotated through hands-on skills stations and participated in realistic patient-care scenarios using simulation technology. Activities included responding to a mock Code Blue, practicing CPR, and attempting intubation using medical training mannequins.
Additional activities included physical wellness exercises, healthcare-themed games, challenges, and prize drawings.
The Healthcare Discovery Event gave students more than information about possible careers. It allowed them to speak directly with professionals, explore multiple education and training options, and practice clinical skills in a realistic hospital environment.
Experiences like this help students connect classroom learning with high-demand careers while introducing them to opportunities available in their own community.
