More than a career exploration event, East Tennessee State University's Rural Youth Career Expo is designed to help rural middle school students envision themselves as the next generation of healthcare professionals serving communities across Appalachia.

Hosted by the Quillen College of Medicine's Division of Rural and Community Programs, the event welcomed 170 seventh- and eighth-grade students from rural middle schools across three counties to ETSU's Academic Health Sciences Center, where they explored healthcare careers through interactive, hands-on activities.

Throughout the day, students rotated through experiences led by ETSU faculty, staff and students, learning about educational pathways that lead to healthcare careers while gaining firsthand exposure to the university's nationally recognized health sciences programs. Nearly two dozen educators participated.

The Rural Youth Career Expo reflects ETSU's long-standing commitment to strengthening the rural healthcare workforce by introducing students to health professions early and helping them see a future for themselves in those careers.

“Many students in rural communities may not have regular opportunities to explore the wide range of careers available in healthcare,” said Stacey Estes, community programs coordinator in Quillen’s Division of Rural and Community Programs. “By bringing them to ETSU and allowing them to interact directly with our students and faculty, we hope they leave inspired and better able to imagine themselves one day caring for patients in their own communities.”

The event builds upon the Division of Rural and Community Programs' broader efforts to encourage students from rural communities to pursue careers in healthcare. Throughout the year, the division offers outreach programs, camps and educational experiences designed to strengthen the pipeline of future health professionals while addressing workforce needs across Appalachia through Tennessee’s largest public Academic Health Sciences Center.

Learn more about the ETSU Academic Health Sciences Center at etsu.edu/ahsc.

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