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Careers event to give students insight into health professions

A collaborative event organised specifically to give third year school students a unique insight into health professions at a critical decision-making point in their lives will take place today (Wednesday 25 January).

Careers in Health, which is being held at the Suttie Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, is being jointly organised by the University of Aberdeen (UoA) and Robert Gordon University (RGU).

60 students from 12 schools across the Aberdeen City, Shire and Moray will take part in the day-long event, which comprises a series of interactive workshops plus opportunities to network with health professionals and academics from each of the organising bodies. Introductory and closing statements will be delivered by UoA reach project officer, Shawn Webster, and RGU education liaison officer, Lynsey Cumming.

The series of ten workshops has been designed to give participants insights into a broad spectrum of health and medical careers. Each student has elected to participate in three workshops across the day, giving them the opportunity to learn more about specific professions that interest them.

Among the workshops on offer are an interactive trauma session which will give the students a hands-on work experience of using medical equipment such as simulators to demonstrate procedural skills that are taught during the training of healthcare professionals.

Similar workshops have been designed that focus on specific disciplines, such as diagnostic radiography, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy – each making use of the equipment and clinical facilities of the Suttie Centre.

During the lunch break, participants will network with academics and professionals from both universities, plus NHS Grampian and Dundee Science Centre, who will engage with the students at presentation stalls set up in the venue’s main reception area.

Lynsey and Shawn have worked together throughout all stages of the event, marking it as a truly collaborative effort between the higher education institutions.

Explaining the ethos behind Careers in Health, Lynsey commented: “A core element of the day is to inform students as to how they can best prepare for entry into highly competitive professions. This lies at the heart of the workshops, such as in the afternoon seminar which offers advice on how to write a competitive application form for medical schools.”

Shawn added: “It’s vital that we provide this kind of opportunity for students at this stage so that they can make informed decisions on their future careers. With entry to higher education increasingly competitive, preparation is key. The interactive format of the workshops provides a fun and effective way to get students to start thinking about their choices now.”

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