Next generation of medicine: 'Pathfinders' chosen for 2019

Memorial Hospital of Chester has accepted six students into the 2018-2019 Pathfinders Program this year.

They are: Stevie Gilbert, Kaleb Hughes and Lauren Leathers from Chester High School; Chloe Gordon and Ashleigh Stegmann from Steeleville High School; and Elizabeth Froemling from TRICO High School.

The Pathfinders Program gives high school seniors the opportunity to job shadow employees at the hospital, clinic and rehab facility in either a medical track or a business track.

Medical Path students spend six hours shadowing medical professionals including doctors and nurses; they sit in on general surgeries and patient evaluations, and log hours in the laboratory, the cardio pulmonary department and with the diagnostic imaging department.

Business Path students spend their time with the Human Resources, Medical Records, Accounting, Marketing, and IT departments. They undergo a staff evaluation and write an essay to summarize their experiences upon completion.

The program gives them a better understanding of what each job entails and allows them to ask questions to help them better understand how to achieve a professional career in the health care field.

The Healthcare Pathfinder Program is offered every year to seniors at area high schools. Out of the 2018-19 class, one student will be chosen to receive a scholarship to help them pursue their career.