Since 2004, MultiCare’s Center for Health Equity (CHEW) has offered MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (MASH) Camp — formerly Nurse Camp.
High school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in a career in health care apply to be part of the community enrichment program. Thanks to donations and support from community organizations and businesses, camp is free to attend.
“With MASH Camp, our goal is to inspire youth to hopefully pursue a health care profession, whether that be clinical or nonclinical,” Community Outreach Program Manager Sheri Mitchell, BSN, RN explains.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s MASH Camp was held virtually for 98 high schoolers, allowing a broader geographic area to join in.
“Our team does a wonderful job to ensure that different professions and people from different walks of life are represented among both students attending and staff supporting,” Manager of Health Promotion and Wellness Chelsey Lindahl, RD, CD says.
During the week, students participated in hands-on exercises like model heart dissections, watched “Day in the Life” videos, asked questions during clinical and nonclinical panels and tuned into a new wellbeing and mindfulness session.
Along with giving a behind-the-scenes look into health care, Sheri hopes the camp will bring about a more representative workforce.
“We open this program up to a diverse background of students — we want it to be representative,” she says. “We’re hoping to get more diversity into our workforce. That’s very important when it comes to caring for our patients and the trust we build. They need to see themselves represented.”
