Oklahoma students interested in learning more about health care careers can get the information they want during a virtual expo on Friday.
Explore Healthcare: Oklahoma Virtual Career Expo will feature 10 hospitals and multiple health care professionals from across the state during a free Zoom session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 19. Oklahoma CareerTech and the Oklahoma Hospital Association are working together to present the event.
The focus is on students in sixth through 12th grades, but anyone can attend, said Lara Morris, health science education program manager at Oklahoma CareerTech.
“We are doing it to promote health careers across the state of Oklahoma,” she said.
Each participating hospital has created a video showing one or more careers. After each video is shown, the webinar will go live to that hospital; students can submit questions, and webinar hosts will feed them to the hospital staff, Morris said.
“Participants will learn about high need occupations across the state directly from the hospitals,” she said. “Videos and live chat with health care professionals will orient participants to careers and opportunities for scholarships and additional information.”
Participating locations include Rural Wellness Fairfax, Ascension St. John Health System in Tulsa, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid, Beaver County Memorial Hospital, Integris Health in Oklahoma City, J.D. McCarty Center for Children in Norman, Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Cleveland Area Hospital and Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.
Careers will include radiology, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, respiratory therapy, speech language pathology, pharmacy, direct care and surgical technology.
In addition, presenters will speak about scholarship and mentorship opportunities. Students will also learn more about CareerTech education and HOSA-Future Health Professionals, the CareerTech student organization affiliated with health science education.
The event is free, but registration is required. More information and a registration link can be found on the Oklahoma CareerTech website at https://oklahoma.gov/careertech/educators/health-science-education/conferences-training-workshops/other-workshops.html. An agenda can be found through the Oklahoma Hospital Association website at https://www.okoha.com/OHA/Health_Care_Issues/Workforce_/Explore-Healthcare---Oklahoma-Virtual-Career-Expo-.aspx.
Those who can’t attend Friday -- or who can only attend part of the career expo -- will be able to find the full video on the Oklahoma CareerTech YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@okcareertech.
Oklahoma CareerTech: Oklahoma’s Workforce Leader
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 63 campuses, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
