Local students explore future health care careers at SIH Health Expo

MARION, Ill. (KBSI) – Local students are getting a closer look at careers in health care through the Southern Illinois Healthcare Health Expo.

The two-day event in Marion brings together hundreds of students from 20 local schools to explore a variety of health care careers.

The expo gives students hands-on experience and an opportunity to learn about both clinical and non-clinical jobs in the health care field.

SIH Human Resources Recruiter Jessica Vicente said the event is designed to help address workforce shortages while connecting students with potential career paths.

“We are currently facing a lot of hard-to-fills,” Vicente said. “Really connecting to the youth and understanding what they are interested in and hopefully connecting them to different personnel that have gone to school and the workforce will hopefully spark some interest.”

For students like Vienna student Anna-Claire West, the event is an opportunity to explore careers she may want to pursue.

“I want to do something in the health care field that I’m not exactly sure what yet,” West said.

This is the third year SIH has hosted the expo. Organizers hope more schools will participate in the future and that the event will help build a pipeline of future health care workers in the region.