HOSA students expand opportunities at OU Healthcare Career Exploration Day

Two Oklahoma HOSA students walked away from OU Health’s second annual Healthcare Career Exploration Day with $5,000 scholarships.

Amelia Miller and Skielah Hamby, both Indian Capital Technology Center students, were among almost 350 high school students to attend the event in November. Each received a $5,000 scholarship to study at the University of Oklahoma or one of the seven OU Health Sciences Center colleges.

Hamby, who is planning a career as a traveling nurse, said Healthcare Career Exploration Day helped her in other ways as well.

“Just listening to all (the health care professionals) talk about their careers and how they got there and what they needed to do helped me understand things a little bit more,” she said.

OU Health is one of HOSA’s premier sponsors, said Amy Warner, HOSA state adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. HOSA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations; it is affiliated with health science education.

OU Health offers students other opportunities to expand their health care knowledge. Through internships, externships and other paid student roles within the Pathway to Practice program, students gain direct, real-world experience. Launched in June 2024, the Healthcare Career Explorer role, tailored for high school and college students, reflects OU Health’s commitment to practical learning and career development.

“OU Health’s investment in the next generation through programs like Healthcare Career Exploration Day and the Pathway to Practice initiative highlights a commitment to build a sustainable, high-quality healthcare ecosystem in Oklahoma,” said Maranda Kitchingham, manager of workforce development at OU Health. “The partnership with HOSA is instrumental in creating opportunities for students, supporting community development and ultimately enhancing the state’s healthcare delivery for years to come.”

Applications for the Healthcare Career Explorer role open in February 2025. Students can submit their interest through an online form at the link. https://forms.office.com/r/NaEu39QpKh.