So you’re interested in a career in healthcare?

Summary

• Students will be introduced to the various careers in medicine/healthcare
• Students will learn about the various pathways necessary for different careers in the field of medicine/healthcare
• Students will identify labour market trends in the medicine/healthcare sector

Setting the Stage

Many students come into high school or secondary school and even leave high school or secondary school, with limited knowledge of careers in the sciences. This is especially true in the area of medicine or more broadly in the healthcare sector. While many students may indicate that they want to “become a doctor”, not everyone can or will. Students may not have the grades, the courses, the finances, the skills, or the support system in place to follow through to have a career as a physician. However, there are many other worthwhile and satisfying careers in healthcare.

Using brainstorming, small and large group discussions as well as an online, collaborative, graphic organizer tool, students will investigate labour-market trends, different careers in the field of healthcare as well as the pathways required to achieve such careers. At the end of this lesson, students will be aware of the many other options available in the field of medicine/healthcare.

Materials & Preparation

• Computers or tablets with internet access (for students)
• Laptop & projector (for teacher, optional)
• Online collaboration whiteboard such as miro, conceptboard or Mindmeister (for teacher and students)
• Pen and paper or note taking software such as Google docs or MS Word
• So, you’re interested in healthcare? Brainstorming Prompts reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - 1 per student
• So, you’re interested in healthcare? Medicine/Healthcare Careers Mind Map reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - 1 per student
• So, you’re interested in healthcare? Exit Slip reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - 1 per student) *Note: one reproducible can be used for two students

What To Do

• Teachers should briefly review the requirements for graduation in their jurisdiction as well as the pathways leading to post-secondary destinations; college, university, workplace and apprenticeship. 
• To facilitate discussion, teachers could project or share directly with students, the brainstorming prompts reproducible.

    Brainstorm #1

• Teachers could place students into groups of 2-3 students. In their groups, students brainstorm and record as many careers in medicine/healthcare that they can think of without using the internet for research. 
• One student from each group could share the brainstormed careers with the larger group as the teacher records them in such a way that all students can view (e.g., project on screen or view on a collaborative whiteboard)

    Brainstorm #2

• Teachers could then ask students to use their devices (individually or in groups) to research other careers in medicine/healthcare to see if they can come up with other careers that were not previously mentioned.
• As they identify additional careers, students can share these newly researched careers with the larger group and teachers can again record the new ideas.

    Brainstorm #3

• Teachers can now ask students to return to their small groups to research labour-market trends in the field of medicine/healthcare by using job search sites and prompts on the brainstorming/prompt worksheet. Alternatively, individually or in their groups, students could select one or more careers that are of interest to them to research. 
• One student from each group could share the researched careers while the teacher records and shares.

• Teachers can decide what parameters (i.e., legend) they would like to use for the Mind Map. For example, blue for secondary courses, pink for college level programs, red for university, etc.
• Students are encouraged to find links between each other’s pathways and careers.
• Teachers can now divide any/all brainstormed careers among the groups. Each group will research the pathways to each of their assigned careers, including the high school or secondary and post-secondary courses/programs, and then enter their information on the Medicine/Healthcare Careers Mind Map Reproducible.
• To end this lesson, and provide opportunities for both reflection and a review of what was learned, teachers could have students complete the Exit Slip Reproducible.

Let’s Talk Science appreciates the work and contributions of Bianca Mercuri from Michael Power/St. Joseph High School, Toronto Catholic District School Board in the development of this lesson.