The NW Youth Careers Expo, PWA's annual career exploration event, gives leading employers a chance to support today’s high school students and tomorrow’s workforce. This week, we’re highlighting the exhibitors in the Health Care Zone, which will offer students ample opportunities for career learning and hands-on fun.

See our full list of Exhibitors | Printable Healthcare Sector Flyer

Our health care sponsoring exhibitors include Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, Providence Health & Services, Oregon Health & Science University, and Willamette Dental Group, and Portland Community College. We will have a strong presence of two-year colleges featuring Portland, Clackamas and Mt. Hood community colleges. We'll also welcome the Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Institute of Technology, the University of Portland School of Nursing, Banfield Pet Hospital and many others as exhibitors.

In the Health Zone, students can:

• Connect with people who work in health care
• Discover the incredible diversity of careers within health care
• Learn about the skills and education needed for different career paths
• Try out the simulation labs and see hands-on demonstrations
• See which employers offer high school internships and volunteer opportunities
  

Kaiser Permanente Northwest: Kaiser Permanente's booth includes the patient simulators (manikins) used by many health care professionals to practice their procedures. Students can also talk with Kaiser Permanente representatives about the organization’s paid four-week long summer exploration program called KP YEAH! and scholarship opportunities for high school students.

Legacy Health: Legacy also typically brings child-and infant-sized manikins. Legacy employees love to talk about nursing education leading to nursing careers working with both adult and pediatric patients. Students also can learn about AV and software careers through Legacy.

OHSU: Oregon Health & Science University is a major presence in the Northwest, both as a health care provider and an educational institution. OHSU will have a big footprint at this year’s Health Care Zone, featuring career paths such as physician, nurse, paramedic, radiation therapy, neuroscience research and many more.

The nonprofit Portland Workforce Alliance works year-round with businesses in every sector to provide career-learning opportunities for high school students. Research shows that students who have the opportunity to learn about careers while they are in high school are more likely to graduate, continue their education and find satisfying careers.