OU Health Expands Healthcare Career Exploration Initiative, Building Robust Talent Pipeline to Address Workforce Needs

OU Health hosted its second annual Healthcare Career Exploration Day, welcoming nearly 350 high school students from Oklahoma City Public Schools, Moore Public Schools, Millwood High School, and HOSA – Future Health Professionals.

This interactive, comprehensive event is designed to ignite passion in the next generation of healthcare professionals while addressing critical workforce shortages. Debuting in March 2024, this initiative aims to spark interest in healthcare careers among high school and college students, building a best-in-class talent pipeline to meet the rising demand for skilled professionals.

The World Health Organization estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers globally by 2030, and across all physician specialties in the United States, a shortage of 139,940 physicians is expected by 2036. According to the Oklahoma Hospital Association, of the nearly 300 individually identified allied health professions, there are critical shortages across nearly all of them in Oklahoma. This event emerged as a strategic solution to engage, educate, and encourage students to consider and pursue healthcare careers.

By equipping Oklahoma’s students for impactful roles in healthcare, OU Health is committed to strengthening the state’s workforce and ensuring the community has access to high-quality, compassionate care. Focused programs like Healthcare Career Exploration Day and paid student roles provide early exposure to healthcare careers, paving the way for a sustainable and resilient healthcare ecosystem in Oklahoma.

“Through engaging, hands-on activities and mentorship, OU Health hopes to spark students’ interest in healthcare while providing them with the guidance and resources to pursue successful careers in the field,” said OU Health Chief Human Resources Officer Jimmy Duncan, SHRM-SCP, SPHR.

Healthcare Scholarships and Job Opportunities

As part of the event, five randomly selected Oklahoma students were gifted with $5,000 scholarships to study at the University of Oklahoma or one of its health sciences colleges – Pharmacy, Allied Health, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, or Dentistry. These scholarships underscore OU Health’s commitment to reducing financial barriers for students passionate about healthcare careers.

Receiving the scholarships were Adamari Camacho from U.S. Grant High School, Amaia Reynolds of Millwood High School, Stacy Canero-Desantiago of Westmoore High School, and Amelia Miller and Skeilah Hamby of Indian Capital Technology Center.

Camacho said she always knew she wanted to go to college and enter a career where she was helping people but was worried about the financial strain of higher education. Although she hasn’t narrowed down a field of study, she was able to learn more about the careers available through the event.

“Hearing about nursing and anesthesiology and the different departments helped me learn more about which career path I wanted to take,” she said. “I was worried about the financial aspect of college, so the scholarship really helps.”

Canero-Desantiago said the scholarship and the career exploration event helped her believe in her dream to work as a trauma nurse.

“Getting this scholarship is giving me more motivation to continue getting my education,” said Canero-Desantiago. “My biggest fear was not being able to go to college, and with this, it’s given me a way to motivate myself to go. Everything is possible.”

Hamby is planning a career as a traveling nurse, and the Healthcare Career Exploration Day helped her in more ways than the scholarship she received.

“Just listening to all (the healthcare professionals) talk about their careers and how they got there and what they needed to do helped me understand things a little bit more,” Hamby said.

The scholarships reflect OU Health’s dedication to providing a support mechanism for students to achieve their educational and professional goals in healthcare, Duncan said.

“Helping to reduce the financial burden to students and even our own employees through programs like tuition reimbursement and student loan forgiveness are key strategies that will help us become an employer of choice by making the achievement of continuous education a part of everyone’s career journey of growth,” Duncan said.

Supporting OU Health’s Vision of Relentless Excellence

The Healthcare Career Exploration Day is a critical component of OU Health’s broader strategy to attract, develop, and retain future healthcare professionals who share a commitment to excellence in patient care and workforce development. This aligns with OU Health’s mission to improve lives through healing and discovery and its aspiration to be a top-tier academic referral center and the destination of choice for patients with complex, serious conditions.

A prepared and motivated workforce is essential to achieving this vision, Duncan said.

“We are creating new, sustainable jobs and career pathways for those who want to work in healthcare and exposing young Oklahomans to real-life stories and experiences by OU Health and the University of Oklahoma professionals to foster their interest and inspire them to enter the healthcare field,” said Duncan.

“For students, it opens the door to meaningful and stable careers with the potential for impact and growth,” Duncan said. “For OU Health, this event addresses the immediate and long-term need for healthcare professionals, ensuring sustainability in providing high-quality care and improved outcomes in Oklahoma. Additionally, it fosters a stronger connection between OU Health and the community by directly contributing to local education and workforce development. By investing in our next generation, OU Health fortifies the healthcare system and strengthens Oklahoma’s position as a leading provider.”

Beyond Healthcare Career Exploration Day, OU Health offers students transformative, career-focused opportunities that promote professional growth in healthcare. Through internships, externships, and other paid student roles within the Pathway to Practice program, students gain direct, real-world experience. Launched in June 2024, the Healthcare Career Explorer role, tailored for high school and college students, reflects OU Health’s commitment to practical learning and career development, preparing students to transition seamlessly into healthcare roles and contribute meaningfully to the community.

Learn more about OU Health workforce development and career opportunities at www.ouhealth.com/careers.