Health Care Career Day Gives Students Unique Look Inside Hospitals

Registration now is open for the fifth annual virtual Health Care Career Day scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

This event offers a unique opportunity for students and educators to explore the world of health care careers — all from the comfort of their classrooms. Check out the 2026 agenda.

Developed in partnership by the Missouri Chamber Foundation, Missouri Hospital Association and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Health Care Career Day gives students a real-time look inside Missouri hospitals.

“Health Care Career Day is more than an event; it’s an investment in the future of our workforce,” said Keara Okolo, MHA’s manager of workforce programs. “By sharing their expertise and experiences, hospital staff help students see the real impact of health care careers and inspire the next generation to join this vital field.”

Through live sessions, health care professionals will share what they do and what inspired them to serve in health care as well as answer student questions.

Complimentary registration is available for educators of all grade levels, making this an accessible resource for schools.

Health care staff from Missouri hospitals that took part in previous Health Care Career Day events said their involvement was beneficial in several ways.

Stephanie Grout, MSEd., organizational development educator at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Mo., said the day is a great way to showcase health care jobs that are sometimes hard for students and community members to understand.

“We wanted to be able to provide students with a look into what an ultrasonographer does and the various ways that imaging is used,” Grout said. “We discussed what the role entails and what information is provided by diagnostics.”

Lanae Romann, R.N., MSN, director of Nursing-Maternal Child & Critical Care Services for the Family Birthplace, Level III NICU, Intensive Care Units, and Inpatient Dialysis at Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau, Mo., echoed Grout’s sentiments.

“Health Care Career Day is a wonderful opportunity to connect with youth and showcase health care careers,” Romann said. “We loved interacting with the students and potentially sparking interest within them to pursue or investigate health care careers.”

Teachers and students who attended the event in the past also enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at different hospital jobs.

“Our small school ... enjoyed and learned from this day,” said Candy Bothwell, a college and career adviser at Macks Creek High School.

In addition to presentations from hospital professionals, Health Care Career Day provides access to various health care career resources, including a demonstration of Missouri Health Careers, an online platform provided by MHA dedicated to educating students and career-seekers about job options in the health care field.

Nearly 15,000 students from 28 states attended the 2025 event. You can watch the full playlist of the sessions from that event.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the upcoming event.

Hospital staff are encouraged to spread the word about Health Care Career Day by sharing this event with their community and schools on social media or in newsletters.

For more information about the 2026 Health Care Career Day, contact Keara Okolo.