Participants in Health Academy

Participating were Courtney Albrecht and Shayna Frost, sponsored by Redfield Community Memorial Hospital.

Avera St. Luke’s, in conjunction with Presentation College and several area Avera partner hospitals, recently held its 10th annual Health Academy.

 The academy’s ultimate goal is to educate high school juniors and seniors about various health care career opportunities. This is accomplished by allowing students the opportunity to not only visit with physicians, nurses and other professional staff, but letting them see where they work and observe firsthand their interactions with patients and staff members. Students are welcomed into more than 14 hospital departments. By the end of the academy, they are able to see that health care is truly a team effort and begin to determine which position on the team best fits their strengths, personality and goals. 

 Avera St. Luke’s first Health Academy was held in 2003 after a strategic planning session of several area hospital administrators revealed that one of the challenges in continuing to offer quality health care in the region is the availability of professional and technical staff. Since its inception, more than 315 high school students have participated.