MHA, SLMHC Externship Connects Educators, Health Care Professionals To Strengthen Workforce Pipeline
To strengthen Missouri's health care workforce pipeline, the Missouri Hospital Association and the St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council convened 49 educators from the St. Louis region for the Hidden Careers in Health Care Teacher Externship on June 18.
The event equipped educators with firsthand insight into high-demand health care career pathways and innovative teaching strategies aligned with workforce needs. Participants connected with health care professionals and gained tools to help students explore health care careers beyond the traditional roles of doctor or nurse.
Participants began the day with sessions focused on challenges facing the health care workforce and enrollment trends in high-demand careers. In the afternoon, they took part in job-shadowing experiences at host hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Mercy, SSM Health, St. Luke's Hospital–St. Louis and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital.
In addition to MHA and SLMHC, EducationPlus and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education sponsored the event. Through events like these, workforce initiatives and resources such as MissouriHealthCareers.com, MHA supports hospitals by strengthening Missouri's health care workforce today and for the future.
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.