Visibility inspires the future
Film Trailer: Healthcare Career Interest Development in the Schools
Huntsville, Alabama, 2023
Children start to identify career interests as early as middle school. It is important to engage the youth early and encourage their appetites for learning math, science, and the arts, which are very important for exploring healthcare degrees. Children start to identify career interests early and usually think about the professional vocational roles that are represented at home, in their families, neighborhoods, and in the community. It is important for children to have exposure not only at school but also to see professionals who look like them, which allows them to “see it” so they know that they can “be it”. This film trailer includes the classroom teacher and students’ voices on this topic.
We must go back to grade school to mentor, encourage and usher our students along the education highway, letting them “see it,” so they know they can “be it.”
- Dr. Garfield Clunie, MD, FACOG (123rd President of the National Medical Association)
Healing of the Community starts with increasing visibility and inclusivity to care for a diverse community.
A highlight of current trends impacting overall healthcare staffing shortages in the U.S. due to the lack of diverse representation
According to the National Medical Association research, only 5.7% of US doctors in the United States are Black, which is considered a shortage that threatens public health, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities. This shortage also affects the greater national shortage of healthcare workers.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, the registered nurse population is comprised of 6.7% African Americans.
Recognizing the need for an inclusive workforce and diversity in medicine in order to ensure that our nation is optimizing its ability to provide high quality, culturally-sensitive, and competent patient care are top priorities in the healthcare sector.
Our future generations are trusting that industry leaders and partners to advance the profession through stronger and intentional recruitment, retention, advancement, and community engagement.
Resource - American Association of Colleges of Nursing. AACN. Enhancing Diversity in the Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet available at https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/enhancing-diversity-in-the-nursing-workforce.
National Medical Association (2023). Only 5.7% of US doctors are Black, and experts warn the shortage harms public health. https://www.nmanet.org/news/632592/Only-5.7-of-US-doctors-are-Black-and-experts-warn-the-shortage-harms-public-health.htm.