REGINA - The next generation interested in healthcare will attend the THINK Health event run by the Regina District Industry Education Council (RDIEC) in partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) in November.
The event sees over 200 high-school students get their feet wet while learning about healthcare and helping them decide their careers.
Mark Edmonds, executive director of the Regina District Industry Education Council, gave insight into what students will learn at the event.
“They'll [high-school students] take part in whatever sessions they kind of choose. They'll [students] be given probably a choice of one, two, or three to kind of pick from primary care paramedics to continuing healthcare people to registered nurses.”
The students come from different school divisions that RDIEC services, including Regina Public, Regina Catholic, Prairie Valley, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Chinook, Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Cornerstone, Good Spirit, Sun West and Prairie Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
While this event has been ongoing for several years, this will be Sask. Polytechnic's first time participating in the event.
Previously, the THINK Health event was run in partnership with only the SHA.
The event saw a big turnout last year, with 150 students wanting to get an experience in healthcare. Organizers were concerned about the increasing demand until Sask. Polytechnic wanted to participate themselves, helping increase the number of students participating from 150 to 250.
In Saskatchewan, most students who graduate from healthcare come from Sask. Polytechnic, according to RDIEC.
With the lack of healthcare workers currently in the province, Edmonds believes the turnout for the event is encouraging. He added more homegrown talent from Saskatchewan would help ease the strain on the sector.
As for why he chose to work for RDIEC, Edmonds said he is passionate about giving kids the extra help and push they need to have successful careers.
RDIEC is also hosting a nursing student experience, where nursing students from Sask. Polytechnic will come and give insight into their program and what to expect.
The THINK Health event gets underway on Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.
