PRAIRIE LAKES, LAMD PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS REGION’S HEALTHCARE NEEDS POSTED: FEB 24, 2012 For 40 years the Lake Area Multi-District has partnered with local healthcare organizations to provide shadowing and training for Health Science students. These partnerships have proven to be beneficial to both students and the partner organizations. Students are given the opportunity to discover their interests and talents and healthcare organizations benefit by having an engaged workforce available in the community. Over the past 40 years, many students who have participated in the Lake Area Multi-District Health Sciences program have become employees of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. “Partnering with programs like the Health Sciences program at Lake Area Multi-District is essential to introducing students to the wide variety of careers available in the healthcare field,” said Jill Fuller, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System CEO. “This keeps the pipeline flowing of area students entering the healthcare field and maintains a workforce for healthcare organizations now and in the future.” Sue Dolen, Director of Maternal Child Health Department at Prairie Lakes, was a student at the Lake Area Multi-District. She knows firsthand that the health science shadowing experience is often the first exposure students have to the work done by professionals in the healthcare field. “Seeing what jobs are available in the healthcare field gives students a clearer idea of what college programs they may want to pursue,” said Dolen. “The health sciences program at Lake Area Multi-District has directly influenced the career choices of many students, including myself.” A large percentage of the health science students at Lake Area Multi-District have chosen to go on to post secondary institutions and complete programs in the health profession. The program has enabled other students to become employed in entry level positions. Brianna Davis, a Lake Area Multi-District student, said, “Being able to shadow at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has helped me to determine my plans for the future. I was able to shadow five different departments and one of them was with a surgical technologist. As my senior year at Castlewood High School is half way over, I have decided to attend Southeast Technical Institute for the Surgical Technology program.” Pictured (left to right): Danielle VanMeter, LAMD student; Amanda Rausch, LAMD student; Sue Dolen, former LAMD student and Director of Maternal Child Health Department at Prairie Lakes; Jill Fuller, CEO of Prairie Lakes; Amy Miller, Director of LAMD; Briana Davis, LAMD student; and Beanna Marotz, LAMD student « back to article list P:605.882.7000 | 877.917.PLHS (7547) | info@prairielakes.com 401 9th Ave. NW Watertown, SD 57201 Privacy Policy