The High School Internship Program at McPherson Center for Health provides local students with hands-on healthcare experience while addressing staffing needs in critical entry-level roles. Since expanding in 2023, more than 30 seniors from McPherson High School have participated, and several have gone on to join the hospital team as CNAs, phlebotomists, or in administrative roles.
The program is designed for students who have completed the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course at McPherson High School. Interns spend approximately 90 minutes per day over a semester, rotating through departments such as nursing, surgery, radiology, respiratory care, and EMS. This provides students with the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals, practice skills, and gain real-world insight into hospital operations.
Director of Education and Patient Experience and HOSA Advisor, Jamie Hicks, emphasizes the program’s dual impact: “We have so much talent right here in McPherson. Often, students imagine a bigger healthcare system will be more exciting. By bringing them into our rural hospital and letting them experience the sense of family and patient-centered care that defines us, we hope it will inspire them to return to rural communities.”
Interest in the internship program far exceeds the number of available spots. To help meet the growing demand, several hospital employees have stepped in as advisors for McPherson High School’s HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapter. While HOSA advisor roles are typically filled by classroom teachers, these hospital employee volunteers provide additional mentorship and guidance, giving students more exposure to healthcare careers. HOSA offers leadership development, technical skill-building, and insight into healthcare professions, this compliments the hands-on experience provided through the internship. Hospital leaders: Dara Reese, Chief Nursing Officer, Charity Clark, Chief Operating Officer, and Karly Clinkscale, Administration Executive Assistant also serve as HOSA advisors with Mrs. Hicks.
Charity Clark, Chief Operating Officer at McPherson Center for Health, emphasizes the broader impact: “Jamie’s leadership is creating opportunities that truly prepare students for healthcare careers. Through the internship program and her work with HOSA, she is helping develop the next generation of caregivers who are ready and inspired to serve the community.”
By combining the internship program with HOSA mentorship, McPherson Center for Health is helping students explore healthcare careers while building a strong pipeline of talent for rural healthcare.