Students with an eye on working in the healthcare industry had a chance to mingle with possible future schools Monday in Talley Student Center.
During the annual N.C. State Health Career Expo, hundreds of students met representatives from organizations representing various healthcare professions and curricula. Hosted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Health Professions Advising Center, students attending the event searched for internships and future medical programs with 100 organizations, including nearly 80 universities from across the country, such as UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine and East Carolina University’s School of Dentistry.
Lucy Dunning, a sophomore in elementary education said her professor, Dr. Anita Flick, the director of Health Professions advising and teaching, an assistant professor and organizer of the expo, stressed the importance of attending the event.
”I’m here for my Bio 105 class. It was suggested by my teacher,” Dunning said.
Among the organizations present, International Service Learning was one of several looking for a few good students. The organization sponsors student’s “service trips” to communities in need of healthcare services. ISL provides qualified applicants hands-on experience in several fields, including nursing, physical therapy and veterinary medicine.
ISL representative Hilary Jacobson said the organization is comparable to the Center for Student Leadership and Public Service’s “Alternative Service Breaks.” The ASB program allows students to travel the globe volunteering alongside other students in communities facing problems with healthcare access.
“We have trips available for students in the medical fields, usually available during the school breaks. Programs are available for two to three weeks during summer and winter breaks, and one-week trips are available during spring break,” Jacobson said. “So it’s sort of an ASB trip.”
Last year, International Service Learning provided 1,200 students from over 100 universities the opportunity to travel to locations such as Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Peru to participate in service projects. The program also offers students a letter of recommendation, which comes in handy when students are considering graduate programs and internships in their prospective fields.
According to Anita Aiken, an admissions coordinator for Duke University Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, Duke is hoping to generate interest about their internships as well as their general program.
“We’re here looking for students for medical school,” Aiken said. “But we’re also just looking to get our name out there as well.”
For Michael Kerrigan, a junior in human biology, the expo was an opportunity to network and gain more knowledge about the organizations as he starts to think about a possible healthcare career.
“I’m hoping to look at the different optometrist schools and just hoping to get some other general information,” Kerrigan said.
There were several information sessions following the expo that covered topics such as diversity, financial aid options and how to avoid common application mistakes.
