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Students gather around tables to learn about health careers Feb. 23 during the REACH Delta event at Monticello High School.
Image by Andria Carter
REACH Delta Event Gives Teens an Introduction to Health Careers
| About 130 teens recently gathered in the gymnasium of Monticello High School to meet with students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and learn about the opportunities available for those who wish to pursue careers in health care.
This year’s Raising Exposure and Awareness of Careers in Health (REACH) Delta event, held Feb. 23, was organized by the UAMS chapter of the Student National Medical Association. The event encourages high school students from the Arkansas Delta to consider careers in the health care field, with the goal of addressing the region’s persistent shortages of doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and other health care workers.
Research has shown that health care professionals from rural backgrounds are significantly more likely to return home to serve those communities, where they have a strong understanding of the population’s unique needs.
Bianca Rochelle, a third-year medical student and alumna of Drew Central High School in Monticello, said the outreach effort will have a lasting impact for some of the students who participated.
“Growing up with my peers, many of us did not realize how many opportunities existed in health care,” said Rochelle, a co-chair for the REACH Delta event. “Being able to return to my hometown and provide that exposure felt like a full-circle moment for me, and it reinforced how important it is to show rural students what is possible.”
Students from Monticello High School and Drew Central High School rotated through a series of presentations and hands-on activities that highlighted some of the academic programs offered at UAMS. At one station, they learned about the responsibilities of physician assistants and practiced CPR chest compressions on manikins. At another, they explored careers in diagnostic medical sonography, using handheld ultrasound devices to conduct examinations of the liver, kidneys, and thyroid.
The teens also received an up-close view of the work conducted by medical laboratory scientists. Students identified red and white blood cells under a microscope, and they looked at detailed 3D models of viral antigens and antibodies that demonstrated key concepts in immunology. They also used a microscope to examine a parasite and learn about its life cycle, highlighting the critical role of laboratory scientists in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Event organizers sought not only to raise the teens’ interest in health careers but also to show them how to gain admission to academic programs at UAMS. As students from the UAMS College of Medicine showed attendees how to measure blood glucose and blood pressure, they also shared details about their journeys into medical school. Nearby, representatives from the College of Pharmacy led discussions about prerequisite courses and college readiness.
“When students can see a clear path from their classroom to a health care career, their ambition becomes actionable,” Rochelle said.
Andria Carter, a third-year medical student and co-chair for REACH Delta, noted the importance of showing the students a variety of career options while they’re still in high school. Carter, a Hope native, said she was glad to see the students take advantage of an opportunity that isn’t often available in rural communities.
“Early engagement and exposure are so important because they allow students to see what’s possible and envision themselves in these roles,” she said. “An event like this can truly change the trajectory of a student’s future.”
Shanea Nelson, Ph.D., senior director for UAMS Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships, said the event reflects UAMS’ efforts to improve the quality of health care throughout the state.
“It is extremely important that we continue to expand the health care workforce with skilled professionals who feel a deep commitment to their communities,” she said.
The Student National Medical Association held the event with support from UAMS Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships as well as from students in the UAMS College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and College of Health Professions.
Patrice Storey, Ph.D., director of student, postgraduate, faculty, and staff engagement for UAMS Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships, said the event underscored the strength of interdisciplinary engagement in shaping the future of health care.
“By creating space for direct interaction with trainees and training tools, this event fostered curiosity, confidence, and a clearer vision of the health care field,” she said. “These efforts are essential in advancing access and long-term workforce development.”