Healthcare is an expansive and continuously evolving industry, which benefits from a diverse workforce. Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership (STEP) hosted its annual Healthcare Connections at Edgecombe Community College in the Deborah L. Lamm Health Sciences Building, on the Rocky Mount campus.

The event was a collaboration between ECU Health Edgecombe
Hospital, UNC Health Nash Hospital, Area L-AHEC and the Edgecombe Community College Health
Sciences Department. More than three hundred high school students from Edgecombe and Nash
counties, with an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, gained exposure to the wide selection of medical professions here in the Twin-Counties.

STEP’s Executive Director, Pam Gould explained, “Our goal is to bring awareness of the diverse
careers in the healthcare field that students may not consider but could find highly rewarding.
Exposure to events like this one are crucial to the development of career interest among young adults who plan to enter the world of medical practice.”

As students toured the training labs and interactive patient simulations, hospital professionals shared real workplace experiences, answered questions, and encouraged students to pursue their goal of truly attaining a career in healthcare. On hand were professionals representing each of the
eleven departments, ranging from EMS, Phlebotomy, Health Information, Radiology to Surgical
Technology.

Noelle Hall, Radiology Manager at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital said “For me, the best part of
this is reaching students who may not realize that there is more to healthcare than nurses and
doctors. Encouraging students to go into healthcare is so important to me,”
Andrea Brown, Health Sciences Teacher at Nash Central High school shared that “I am so glad that
we had the opportunity to connect with and hear the stories of medical professionals from our
community. Thanks, and kudos to the entire team for such a wonderful experience!”

“I think these two days have helped some students confirm their interests, and for others to open
their eyes to new possibilities. We hope future high school graduates will consider one of the topnotch healthcare programs at Edgecombe Community College or Nash Community College and
decide to work here, in the Twin-Counties,” added Pam Gould.

An overwhelming majority of students surveyed stated they were more likely to consider a career at
ECU Health Edgecombe or UNC Health Nash. “That’s a win!” stated Pam Gould.
“Having the chance to be able to participate in the Healthcare Connections event was a truly
wonderful opportunity. I am so thankful that I was able to have the chance to attend this, as it gave
me, as well as many other students, a better understanding of the endless possibility of careers in
the healthcare field,” said Hannah Clay, a Junior at Edgecombe Early College High School.

Edgecombe County Public Schools

High School Students Explore the Diversity in Healthcare