NWTC healthcare camp introduces students to in-demand careers

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is helping students explore healthcare careers earlier through a hands-on summer camp designed to spark interest in the profession and build awareness of the many career opportunities available in the field.

On June 10, students from across the region gathered at NWTC Marinette for A Day in the Life: Healthcare Summer Camp, where youth ages 12 to 16 explored healthcare careers through hands-on experiences and direct interaction with educators and healthcare professionals.

Throughout the day, students explored careers including nursing, nursing assistant, medical assistant, emergency medical technician, and biomedical engineering while learning about the education and training pathways that lead to those professions.

"Early exposure matters," said Cindy Bailey, NWTC's K12 Pathways and Rural Community Impact director. "Many students are familiar with doctors and nurses, but they may not realize the wide range of careers available in healthcare. Experiences like this help students explore those opportunities and begin seeing themselves in these professions."

The camp also highlighted the importance of partnerships between education and industry. Representatives from regional healthcare organizations, including Aurora Medical Center Bay Area, Emplify Health, and Rennes Group, participated in the event, providing students with firsthand insight into healthcare careers and workforce opportunities in the region.

"Healthcare organizations need a strong future workforce, and that starts with helping students understand the array of opportunities available to them," said Julie Bulin, vice president of Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital. "By connecting students with healthcare professionals who are patient-facing and behind the scenes as well as offer hands-on experiences, we're helping them see themselves in these careers and building awareness of pathways that can lead to meaningful work in our communities."

Healthcare remains one of NWTC's largest and most in-demand areas of study. NWTC is one of the leading institutions in the Wisconsin Technical College System for producing graduates in critical healthcare fields like Health Information Technology, Nursing-Associate Degree, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Surgical Technologist, and more.

"We know career interests often begin forming long before students start thinking about college," Bailey said. "When students have opportunities to explore careers, meet professionals, and experience these fields firsthand, it can spark interests that influence future educational and career decisions."

A Day in the Life: Healthcare Summer Camp is one of several ways NWTC connects K12 students with career exploration opportunities while helping build the future workforce of Northeast Wisconsin.

Learn more about healthcare programs and career opportunities at NWTC.