Health Sciences Career Day to Be Hosted by Iowa Hospital Association
The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA), in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Education and hospitals across the state, announced today the organizations will host the second annual Health Sciences Career Day on Thursday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to noon.
“Workforce and staffing shortages remain one of the top concerns we hear from hospital leaders in Iowa,” said Chris Mitchell, IHA President & CEO. “In partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and hospitals across the state, Health Sciences Career Day introduces students to many diverse and rewarding career opportunities in health care. We hope this event inspires interest in health care careers and helps guide Iowa students as they make future educational decisions. There is significant demand and a bright future for those entering the health care field, and our goal is to showcase those opportunities as students begin planning their careers.”
This virtual event, geared toward Iowa middle- and high school students, is intended to introduce the future workforce to some of the most in-demand health care careers across the state. Hosted during National Hospital Week, the event will showcase engaging videos and live panel discussions that will help students gain insight into various educational opportunities and career paths. Students will have the opportunity to engage with local health care professionals and ask questions about the components of each job – from patient care responsibilities to education and training requirements.
Event program areas for 2026 include:
Pharmacy – Great River Health, West Burlington
Nursing – MercyOne
Radiology – Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs
Physical Therapy – Cass Health, Atlantic
Emergency Medical Services – Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids
Surgical Services – UnityPoint Health
Students from Interstate 35 High School weighed in on their experience at last year’s Health Sciences Career Day, why they want to pursue a career in health care and shared advice for students still considering career options.
“My favorite part from last year's event was being able to see first-hand what a hospital setting is like and also getting to learn about the careers I'm interested in,” said senior McKenzie Phillips. “I'm interested in a career in health care because I want to work one-on-one with patients. I truly enjoy helping people. I like the idea of being there for someone when they might be nervous or going through a tough time. I also want to be part of the happy moments, celebrating good news and new beginnings. I hope to be a friendly, trustworthy face in a clinic or hospital setting, and to be someone patients feel comfortable talking to and confident in. Being able to care for others and make them feel supported during both the hard and joyful times is really important to me.”
“Watching my mom work in health care sparked my interest and made me realize this is the path I want to follow. Seeing people struggle with everyday activities inspires me to work hard to support them, provide compassionate care, and make a positive difference in their daily lives,” added senior Kayla Jones. “Be sure to attend exploration days to learn about all the different opportunities in health care. There are so many paths, some are patient-facing, while others work behind the scenes. Don’t limit yourself to just one career; explore everything and see what truly excites you!”
Last year more than 1,000 middle- and high school students from 60 Iowa schools participated in this educational event.
Learn more by visiting the IHA website at: https://ihaonline.org/event/health-sciences-career-day/
Educators can register their class or a group of students through the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__WT1vbVcS4eeNCPhBNXlVw