Program overview

The inaugural Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Pathways into Healthcare Careers (PiHC) program is a three-day interactive program for Duval County (Jacksonville, Florida) local and regional high school rising juniors and seniors, college students, and career changers to learn about more than 20 allied healthcare professions outside of a doctor. Program will highlight educational pathways and career ladders across featured professions, which may include but are not limited to: pharmacist, nurse anesthetist, histotechnologist, surgical technologist, and others.

Program highlights

Students can expect to engage in the following activities:

• Interactive scenarios in the Simulation Center with interdisciplinary teams
• Engagement with Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences students, faculty, and allied health professionals in a variety of settings (panels, activities, tours, and lectures).
• Personal and professional development activities
• Networking with other high school and college students
• Exposure to career opportunities and institutional initiatives focused on diversity, health equity, and underserved populations

At the end of the program, students will be exposed to:

• Educational pathways and career ladders across healthcare roles from high school to post-graduate.
• Educational opportunities at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, ranging from certificate programs to clinical rotation opportunities to fellowships.
• Career opportunities at Mayo Clinic
• Resources available for learners and employees to succeed.

Admissions

Applications are open between April 1-May 31, 2024.

Prerequisites: Who should apply?

The ideal candidate is one with interest in learning about healthcare careers and opportunities outside of becoming a doctor or a scientist.

Eligible attendees must be any of the following with an interest in healthcare careers:

• Rising high school juniors or seniors
• College students
• Career changers

We seek to enroll a diverse group of individuals from the Duval County (Jacksonville, Florida) region. Applications are taken from students in public, private, charter, home-based high schools, colleges, or career changers in the region. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

To establish a group of PiHC students that reflects both the organization Mayo Clinic seeks to be and the patients we serve, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences especially encourages applications from students who belong to any of the following groups:

• Future first-generation college students or students enrolled in TRIO, Upward Bound, and College Possible
• Black or African-American
• Hispanic or Latino
• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Native Hawaiian or U.S. Pacific Islander
• Students receiving free and or reduced school lunches

Application instructions

Complete the following steps to apply:

1. Create an account to begin the online Application for Admission. Select the following when creating an account:
   • School of Study - Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
   • Area of Interest - Pathways into Healthcare
2. Once logged on, select "Create a New Application"
3. Select "Start a Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Application"
4. Complete each section of the application and submit
5. After submission:
   • Select the "View" button next to your application
   • Select the "Supplemental Items & Documents" tab
     • Upload your supplemental items

Additional required items

• Answer the following essay question and upload it in the Supplemental Items section. Essay should be between 300-500 words.
  • Describe your interest in a healthcare career.
  • Share what you hope to gain from attending this program.
• One recommendation is required and must be completed in the Recommendation Request section. Each recommender will receive an email with a link to complete a recommendation form.
  • Recommendation from a current or former teacher, counselor, professor, employer, or supervisor.

Acceptance

The program steering committee will select and notify students by June 13, 2024.

You will be notified of acceptance via email and your reply is expected within one week (June 20, 2024). This is a competitive application process. Students will not be accepted outside of the selection process.

Tuition and financial aid

Mayo Clinic charges no fees to accepted students. Breakfast, lunch, and beverages (coffee and water) will be provided. Accepted students may request financial support for transportation needed to attend the event.

Featured careers

The schedule is currently in development; however, it will include some of the many careers represented across Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences programming. These are listed below and provide an idea of careers one can expect to learn about.

• Certificate-granting programs: Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Ophthalmic Assistant, Histology, Radiography, Sonography, Dietetics, Audiology
• Clinical rotation opportunities with local academic affiliate programs: Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, Radiation Therapy, Cardiovascular Technologist, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Nurse Anesthetist
• Full-time clinical rotation opportunities with fully-remote training programs: Neurodiagnostic Technician, Medical Dosimetrist
• Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) opportunities: Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Molecular Pathologist, Cytotechnologist, Pathologists’ Assistant
• Nursing careers and opportunities: Patient Care Technician, LPN/Medical Assistant, Registered Nurse (RN)

Schedule

Students must attend all three days for the entire duration. The schedule is in development.