Hospital Day Sparks Interest for High School Students

Stretcher demonstrations beside an ambulance, state of the art radiology equipment, and how much a dental hygienist earns — all realities and opportunities in a healthcare career and the purpose behind a special day at the Choctaw Nation Hospital in Talihina, Oklahoma.

“Once it comes to life, it’s really cool to see it happen,” Andrea Wimberly says. She is a Senior Recruiter for Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority, a tribal member, and the lead coordinator for a day that welcomed 100 high school students to the hospital. 

“The main goal is to let the students know what types of jobs are available in the area,” she says. “We employ around 700 associates just here at the hospital. We want to let them know they can come back home and work.”

On February 27, 2019 — a Wednesday morning when no medical appointments are scheduled at the hospital — students from area high schools converged for an interactive, immersive experience. Dr. Jason Hill, Lisa Isaac, Heidi Couch, and Andrea Wimberly coordinated the event. 

When the students arrived, they were taken on tours of pharmacy, radiology, emergency medical, and physical therapy to learn aspects such as what a radiology assistant does and the pay scales for various positions.

“Maybe you thought you wanted to be a dental assistant,” Andrea explains one example she gives the students. “But you can see on paper what a dental assistant makes, and then right underneath that, a dental hygienist who gets a bachelor’s degree and makes about triple. I hope it expands their goals, encourages them to push themselves a little bit harder, and maybe see a different outcome in their future.” 

The Chahta Foundation set up a booth to introduce students to scholarship opportunities through the foundation, especially ones related to healthcare professions.

The students finished the day and left with packets filled with valuable sources to help them make an informed decision about their education path, along with contact information to reach out with questions.

Last year’s day at the hospital included 300 students, something Andrea wanted to change this year. She assigned a form for students to fill out at school, essentially applying for the opportunity to take part in the day. This resulted in more engagement from students who are seriously considering a career in the medical industry.

“Comparing the two, there was so much more engagement this year,” Andrea says. “They stayed at the booths longer, seemed to talk to people more, the tours weren’t as quick. They were a lot more mindful of the day.”

Some of the students are concurrently enrolled in local junior colleges, something Andrea encourages from her own experiences.

“A lot of students overlook junior college,” she explains. “I like to come in and say, ‘I have my master’s degree, but I started off at Eastern Oklahoma State College.’ It was a great introduction to college where I was able to learn how to study the way you need to in college before going on to a university.”

Andrea’s father was an encourager for her when she reached out for her education goals and dreams. 

“I had a great role model, and not all of these students have that,” she says. “I want to, as aggressively as possible, show them that there is more out there than maybe what they see in high school.”

The Chahta Foundation offers several scholarships related to healthcare, including payback ones that require students to return and dedicate a specified amount of time working in Choctaw Nation medical facilities. This is often viewed as an incentive for students like 2018 scholarship recipients Duncan Kovash (Virginia Leflore Marshall Scholarship) and Christopher Rufus Sweeney (Heritage — Medical) who are excited to return once they graduate. 

This year, Meagan Palmer (Heritage — Medical 2015) joined the staff at the Talihina hospital as a physical therapist. We hope to share similar stories with you in the coming years from the students who attended the hospital day at Talihina.

Andrea added, “We’re letting the students know they can come back home, be successful, and give back to the people.”