A diverse group of Vermont health care professionals discussed health care career opportunities at Montpelier High School October 13 in conjunction with Health Care Careers Awareness Month. Students learned about panelists' career paths, different types of available health care jobs and listened to stories about panel members' on-the-job experiences. Governor Jim Douglas signed a proclamation designating October Health Care Career Awareness Month in Vermont at the event.

"The objective of this event was to raise awareness among Vermont's youth about the excellent career opportunities in health care and the need to fill these jobs," said Liz Cote, director of the University of Vermont College of Medicine Office of Primary Care and Area Health and Education Centers (AHEC) Program and co-chair of Vermont's Health Care Workforce Development Partnership. "As a growing number of Vermont health care professionals plan to retire in the coming years, demand to fill those job openings will continue to stay strong."

In addition to the Governor's Proclamation, the Vermont Legislature also issued a resolution designating October 2009 as Health Care Careers Awareness Month, due to a number of issues affecting Vermont's health care workforce. Among them is the upcoming retirement of many experienced health care workers while the population ages and demand for health care steadily increases. The declining supply of younger health care providers is creating demand and opportunities across the field, including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physicians, medical laboratory technicians, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, counselors and many others.

Panelists at the event included a radiologic technologist; pharmacist; family physician; public health prevention and outreach specialist; dentist; medical assistant; as well as internal medicine physician Charles MacLean, M.D., UVM associate dean for primary care and professor of medicine. After the panel discussion, students from all grade levels had the opportunity to learn more about health care career options through an interactive game called Plink-It!, other provided materials, and individual discussions with health care professionals at the event.

Members of Vermont's Health Care Workforce Development Partners, Vermont's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), and the UVM Office of Nursing Workforce will be visiting the state's high schools throughout the year to provide information about career opportunities in Vermont's health care industry.

Vermont's Health Care Workforce Development Partners, comprised of Vermont health care professionals and organizations, is collaborating to develop long-term solutions to sustain Vermont's health care workforce.

To learn more about health career opportunities in the state, visit VT Health Careers.