Health care career pathways

In the Kamloops-Thompson School District 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, one of the key priorities is career development.

To support this priority, the board of education and district staff aim to ensure every student has programming opportunities to explore their passions and consider related career and post-secondary education pathways. Career education happens first and foremost in the classroom and our community.

Our board champions innovative educational opportunities in the district to help students gain unique experiences related to their passions and goals while developing integral skills that will guide them achieve their career and life goals.

One way the district offers innovative programming is through our academies, such as the aquatic and dance academies at Brocklehurst Secondary, digital arts technology academy (DATA) at Valleyview Secondary, hockey skills academy at Brocklehurst Secondary and Valleyview Secondary, the new outdoor academy at Sa-Hali Secondary and the health science academy at Brocklehurst Secondary.

These educational programs can be school-based or district-wide, emphasize a particular sport, activity or subject area and meet the Ministry of Education and Child Care curricular criteria set out in the School Act.

Many academies start with an idea from a passionate teacher or the community identifying new programs that would benefit students. From idea to reality, an academy can take a full year or more to develop, especially when creating new structures and curriculum. The process is teacher-led and organically grown to meet the specific needs of students in our district.

Experiential education plays a crucial role in meeting students where they are and where they want to go. By providing hands-on, practical learning experiences, we ensure that students connect their academic learning to real-world applications, which is invaluable as they explore potential career paths. This approach to learning engages students in ways that traditional classroom settings may not, allowing them to take ownership of their educational journeys and career aspirations.

One of the areas we want to highlight comes from a community consultation about reconfiguring grades with North Shore and Brocklehurst schools in 2023. That is where we learned parents and staff in those communities value a wide range of programming and have a particular passion for programs that enable students to explore healthcare career pathways.

At the regular public board meeting on Jan. 29, the board approved the establishment of a new district health sciences academy at Brocklehurst Secondary. This new district-wide academy officially started at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year in September, with 27 students from all across the district currently enrolled.

The health sciences academy allows students to explore and experience a range of in-demand, public-sector healthcare occupations. Through this exploration, students have the opportunity to connect their interests and passions to numerous health career experiences with an emphasis on hands-on learning.

“The health sciences academy is a fantastic opportunity for Grade 11 and 12 students to sample a wide variety of healthcare careers,” district vice-principal of career programs, Kerry Gairdner said.

“Through our partnership with Royal Inland Hospital, Interior Health, and TRU, we are excited for our students to explore careers in many sectors of the healthcare field, gaining first-hand experience with what various health professionals do. The purpose of the academy is to enable students to make informed career-based decisions for their future.”

The district health sciences academy includes four courses over one semester—Health Career Sampler 12, Anatomy and Physiology 12, Work Experience 12 and Career Life Connections 12.

“Students are learning the basics of healthcare, anatomy and physiology, and getting real-life, hands-on experience in various fields of healthcare,” said health sciences academy teacher Ms. Busch.

“I am enjoying the investment in learning from all of the students. They are here to learn and their work ethic reflects that.”

So far this school year, the academy’s students have learned safety aspects of healthcare work environments, received orientations at healthcare worksites, including Royal Inland Hospital and Overlander Long Term Care facility, and began exploring Body Interact, a new software that allows students to work with virtual simulated patients.

Through each course, the academy places an emphasis on hands-on learning and work experience. During a recent class, a nurse taught students how to place an IV and draw blood using the phlebotomy arms.

“I don’t know any other high school student that can say they’ve done that,” one student said after the experience.

Health science academy students also spend one afternoon per week working with professionals at a healthcare facility to expand their knowledge of healthcare professions.

“They show us so many different parts of healthcare in depth, and seeing people who are so passionate about what they do and that's who we’re working alongside, is so inspiring,” said academy student Emma Covaceuszach.

Many students entered the academy with a goal of exploring healthcare careers and have already discovered new career path options within the sector, from doctors and nurses to physiotherapists and nutritionists.

As student Shylla Bobinski said: “Coming into this, I thought I knew what I wanted to be, but then realized there are so many different options… seeing the other areas of healthcare is cool.”

Academy student Simran Jhutty added: “It's wonderful to be able to experience different healthcare fields. With all the work placement experiences, you get to really know what it would be like to have that job rather than just learning about it… getting this first-hand information will really help us make our career choices.”

After hearing students describe the health siences academy as a “once in a lifetime experience,” I’m excited to see the innovative programming and new academies are serving the evolving needs of students in our district.

With the continued development of innovative career programs like the the health sciences academy, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is not only equipping students with the skills they need for future success but also fostering a life-long passion for learning and community engagement.

Cole Hickson is a trustee on the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education.