Dr. Tyler
Bergstrom, a general surgeon at Rapid City Medical Center, is a Mines electrical
engineering graduate.
In the coming
decade, as the baby boomer generation continue to retire, the need for
healthcare workers is expected to increase significantly. The young people of
today will play a vital role in meeting the critical healthcare needs of
tomorrow.
Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) and South Dakota
Mines are joining forces in an effort to inspire the next generation of health
care workers. The RCAS Scrubs Camp, planned for
Feb. 2 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Surbeck Center at South Dakota Mines is
one part of this overall effort. Students
in this camp will get hands-on training that introduces them to various
healthcare fields.
“Scrubs Camps are designed to increase awareness of
education, skills and understanding of health careers available in South Dakota
through interactive activities taught by professionals in the health care field,”
says Bobbie Jo Donovan, the academy coordinator at RCAS. “Students attending
this Scrubs Camp will learn about careers related to nursing, athletic
training, dental, mental health, biomedical science, CNA, MA, EMT, paramedic
and surgical technician.”
The United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports the healthcare occupations are expected to grow “much
faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to
result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade. In addition to new jobs from
growth, opportunities arise from the need to replace workers who leave their
occupations permanently. About 1.9 million openings each year, on average, are
projected to come from growth and replacement needs.”
South Dakota Mines offers a range of programs for
students interested in the fields of healthcare. Mines is helping meet the need for frontline
healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in a
number of pre-med programs. The university also offers degrees in biology,
chemistry and health sciences alongside biomedical engineering for students
who want to undertake cutting edge research to help cure diseases
like cancer.