A California hospital’s plan for addressing workforce shortage? Inspire future health care leaders.
The most populous state in the country faces an alarming shortage of health care workers. Almost a quarter of California’s nearly 40 million residents live in areas that lack sufficient primary care providers, and the state needs to add 500,000 new professionals to ensure their access to care.
Understanding the key role that the next generation can play in bridging this gap, Torrance Memorial Medical Center recently hosted more than 180 local high school students to explore different health care career paths.
The December 2023 event, known as Healthcare Career Exploration Day, featured nurses, physicians and medical staffers offering live action demonstrations, like how to draw medication and use ultrasound equipment. Students even had the opportunity to operate a Da Vinci surgical robot, which uses a minimally invasive surgical approach, as well as apply virtual reality in medical settings.
“Our goal for this event is to inspire curiosity and hopefully future health care leaders,” said Derek Berz, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.