Maumelle High School seniors learned about numerous educational programs available at UAMS during a panel discussion on Feb. 16 with UAMS faculty and staff.
More than 60 students took part in the Senior Business Luncheon, an event of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and held in the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Sam Walton Auditorium. Panel discussion focused on seldom-discussed health care careers and the education, salary, opportunities, job growth and skills associated with those professions.
Panel members were from the College of Public Health (COPH), the College of Health Professions, and the Graduate School.
COPH’s own Jordan O’Roark, Ed.D., director of admissions and alumni relations, explained the importance of the work done in public health and the vast number of issues it impacts, including climate change, gun violence, environmental protection, and immunizations.
“Public health is about prevention,” said O’Roark. “We prevent sickness, disease, and injury as much as possible. It’s important, and the research and work done has had tremendous impact on our society.”
Students asked panel members how to be a more competitive applicant and what education is required for certain UAMS programs.
“There are a number of opportunities in health care, especially at UAMS,” said Alicia Gillen, executive director of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important to learn and explore now the areas you might be interested in.”