![Students examine surgical instruments during an experiential lab day of the Mayo Clinic Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer (CARES) Program for high school students.](https://pxl-mayoedu.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1024x2000/filters:quality(75)/prod01/channel_2/media/mccms/content-assets/about/news/aug-oct-2024/1024X512_group-AZ-CARES-ProgramWF4424542_0248.jpg)
August 26, 2024
Students participating in the Mayo Clinic CARES Program learn about healthcare careers, including nursing, orthopedic surgery, medical lab sciences, social work, and more. They also continue to develop their potential with coaching and mentorship throughout the academic year.
This summer, the Mayo Clinic CARES (Career Advancement, Research and Education Summer) Program hosted 40 high school students from 30 schools in the Phoenix area for its annual in-person and virtual summer pathway programs.
Approximately 100 Mayo Clinic staff from all three shields came together to conduct hands-on activities, virtual simulations, and interactive teaching sessions with the students.
The students were exposed to various healthcare careers, including nursing, orthopedic surgery, medical lab sciences, social work, research, humanities, and more. The students also gained valuable life skills through a variety of workshops and will continue to develop their potential with ongoing coaching and mentorship throughout the academic year.
![High school students in the Mayo Clinic CARES program work on a patient simulation under the direction of Mayo Clinic staff](https://pxl-mayoedu.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1024x2000/filters:quality(75)/prod01/channel_2/media/mccms/content-assets/about/news/aug-oct-2024/1024X512_2024-AZ-CARE-Program-student-teacher-WF4424542_0058.jpg)
Since its beginning in 2019, the Mayo Clinic CARES Program has hosted 140 students. The seven students in the intial group have graduated from high school and college. Three of them have been accepted into medical schools, two are preparing to apply, and one will begin a nurse residency program this fall.
![Students practice intravenous (IV) cannulation at an IV station during an experiential lab day of the Mayo Clinic Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer (CARES) Program for high school students.](https://pxl-mayoedu.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1024x2000/filters:quality(75)/prod01/channel_2/media/mccms/content-assets/about/news/aug-oct-2024/1024X512_2024-student-phlebotomy-CARES-Program-Mayo-Clinic-AZ-WF4424542_0530.jpg)