Weeklong camp at SUNY Upstate designed to grow interest among teens in healthcare careers

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- With more and more healthcare jobs filling the Help Wanted section, SUNY Upstate Medical University officials are hoping an intensive weeklong camp aimed at providing a close-up look at these jobs will entice some teens to pursue careers in healthcare.

MedQuest Health Careers Exploration Camp, which opened July 17 and runs through Friday, July 21, at SUNY Upstate, has brought 23 area high students to campus to give hands-on experience in the medical field.

During the residential camp, students will be involved in nearly 44 hours of programming, such as observing a bypass surgery demonstration, learning about acupuncture, suturing and disaster preparedness.

"Careers in the medical field make up some of today's most in-demand jobs," said program's coordinator James Vossler, assistant dean of SUNY Upstate's College of Health Professions. "This type of experience, one that offers young people an early awareness of medical careers, might in some way help interest them in a career field that has plenty of job opportunities."

The MedQuest camp is sponsored by Central New York Area Heath Education Center and SUNY Upstate.