HealthForce MN Scrubs Rochester Camp

There is a shortage of healthcare professionals, especially among underrepresented groups. Employers need qualified workers and are particularly interested in creating a diversified workforce. Summer enrichment camps provide the exposure needed for young people to gain an interest in healthcare professions, but due to a lack of accessibility, individuals from underrepresented groups often lack the opportunity to attend these educational opportunities.  

Established in 2008, Scrubs Camp offers middle school and high school students a unique opportunity to explore careers in health sciences in a camp-like setting at multiple locations throughout the summer. Scrubs Camp is a collaborative project between HealthForce Minnesota, healthcare employers, and various educational institutions. Healthcare professionals and faculty from area colleges and universities lead sessions, and campers gain valuable experience through interactive hands-on activities and field trips geared to build excitement about careers in healthcare.

The goal of this year’s Rochester camp is to provide scholarships for half of all attendees. To earn a scholarship, students must demonstrate hardship by claiming it on their application form, are enrolled in the free lunch program at school, or are a student from an underrepresented group.

The funds distributed by the K12 Foundation and Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (RMM) gives students the resources they need to attend camp and to cover programming costs, such as reserving a simulation bus or developing other presentations designed to inspire these students to pursue jobs in healthcare. Additionally, the funds allow some campers to attend sessions with University of Minnesota faculty to learn specifically about stem cells, exposing these high school students to the concept of regenerative medicine.

Like the rest of the country, Minnesota needs more and diverse healthcare workers. The Rochester Scrubs Camp gives junior high and high school students an opportunity to explore some of the concepts and tools used in various healthcare professions and to interact with medical educators. The goal of Scrubs Camp is to introduce students to healthcare in hopes of inspiring them to pursue a post-secondary education that trains them for a medical profession in Minnesota.

Misun Bormann is the director of HealthForce Minnesota’s Statewide K-16 Partnerships. HealthForce MN is a collaborative effort between K-16 education institutions, industry partners, and the community, working to increase the number of healthcare workers and expand the diversity of the workforce within the field. As part of HealthForce MN, Misun Bormann works with the K-16 Health Science Partnership to promote healthcare career awareness among students.