August 1, 2014
Casper student Tatiana Rice received hands-on medical training in a microbiology laboratory
during the recent Wyoming Area Health Education Center Health Care Careers Summer
Camp at the University of Wyoming. Students learned about the requirements necessary
to pursue a health care career as well as the numerous job opportunities that will
be available throughout Wyoming upon completion of their training. (UW Photo)
When Tatiana Rice of Casper was a young girl, her pediatrician inspired her to consider
a career in the medical profession.
Rice took an important step toward following her pediatrician’s example when she received
hands-on medical training during the recent Wyoming Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Health Care Careers Summer Camp at the University of Wyoming.
During the camp, 40 high school students from 21 Wyoming communities learned about
the requirements necessary to pursue a health care career as well as the numerous
job opportunities that will be available throughout Wyoming upon completion of their
training.
“I had talked to some college advisers as a freshman, but didn’t feel like I understood
the medical school process very well,” Rice says. “When I heard about the AHEC program
during morning announcements, I learned we would dissect a cadaver and get CPR certified,
so I knew I had to come.”
She’s thrilled she decided to attend.
“The experience was incredible. I was able to participate in so many activities that
I otherwise would never have,” Rice says. “Academically, the camp was amazing. I was
able to learn about so many different professions like forensics, pharmaceuticals
and EMTs.”
At the UW camp, high school students were exposed to careers in such fields as nursing,
pharmacy, medicine, surgical technology, forensics, dental hygiene, radiography and
ultrasonography. Activities took place on the UW campus, Laramie’s Ivinson Memorial
Hospital and at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.
Students had opportunities to suture (with chicken breasts); make “medicated” gummy
bears; make a cast; perform an ultrasound-guided “biopsy”; and operate a laparoscope,
an instrument used to examine abdominal or pelvic organs.
“Wyoming is facing a critical shortage of health care workers. Camp sponsors hope
that opportunities like this will motivate students to consider pursuing health care
careers,” says Marivern Easton, Wyoming AHEC program director and UW College of Health
Sciences WWAMI Medical Education assistant director. “The shortage will worsen as
the baby boomer generation ages.”
Each Wyoming county is dealing with shortages in primary care and mental health, and
many face shortages of dentists and other health care professionals.
The key, Easton says, is to identify, recruit, train and retain Wyoming residents.
“If we can generate enthusiasm among high school-aged students and support them as
they pursue education and training opportunities, we have a much stronger possibility
of eventually employing them as health care workers throughout Wyoming,” she adds.
Rice says the camp demonstrated that UW offers a quality educational experience in
health care.
“UW has amazing scholarships and health programs. It’s also a beautiful campus,” she
says. “The counselors were amazing, unique and funny. The camp was structured perfectly.
I can't say enough good things about my experience.”
The camp is sponsored by the Wyoming AHEC, UW College of Health Sciences, WWAMI (Washington
Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education Program, Wyoming Office of Rural
Health, Laramie County Community College, Wyoming Center for Nursing and Health Care
Partnerships, and Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
For more information about the summer camp, call Easton at (307) 766-6751.
