Grade level: 9-12, three class periods

Objectives: Students will identify professions in healthcare. They will identify the characteristics of effective providers of healthcare. The students will consider the health occupations and whether or not they could see themselves as healthcare professionals.

Materials: Computers with Internet access and a word-processing program, photocopier, overhead projector.

Procedure:

Over the next two days we will be researching different careers in the health field. What are some professions within the health field? Write down the answers given on an overhead projector so that they can see what has been said. After they have thought of as many as they could, put up a list that contains many common health professions:

Doctors and Nurses: Anesthesiologist, Cardiologist, Dentist, Dermatologist, Family Practitioner, Neurologist, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Oncologist, Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Pathologist, Pediatrician, Sports Medicine, Plastic Surgeon, Podiatrist, Psychiatrist, Radiologist, Surgeon, Urologist

Common Allied Health Professions: Athletic Trainer, Audiologist/Speech Pathologist, Cardiovascular Technologist, Medical Technician, Counselor, Dental Hygienist, Dietitian/Nutritionist, Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, Health Information Administrator, Medical Assistant, Recreational Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapist, Radiation Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Technologist, Exercise Physiologist

Other: Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Public Health

You will all pick a different health profession to explore; one that interests you. You will research the profession on the Internet only. Please answer the following questions:

What is the primary goal of this profession?


What type of education or experience is required for this profession?


What type of personal characteristics must you have in this profession?


What about this profession is most interesting to you?

Here are some links that may be helpful to you:

http://www.yahoo.com

http://www.google.com

http://www.msn.com

The next day will be spent researching their profession. Be sure that students are on the right track. At the end of the class period the students will turn in their findings in an outline form. Gather students’ information and make a printout for tomorrow’s class.

At the beginning of class the third day, distribute the packets and allow each student to discuss their profession. After each student has discussed their profession, list the important attributes of health professionals:

A high level of knowledge

Professionalism

Leadership Skills

Ethics

Compassion

Commitment to continue their professional development.

Discussion Questions: Which of these attributes do you feel you have? Would this be an appropriate field for you to pursue? Why or why not? Of the professions you learned about, which one best fits your skills and personality? When deciding on a career path, what are some of the important aspects you should consider?

Evaluation:

20- 16 points: Used strong research skills and created informative summaries, showed strong ability to discuss healthcare profession.

15-11 points: Used average research skills and average interviewing skills; created an average summary and discussion on the healthcare profession.

10-0 points: Used below average research skills and created a below average summary and discussion.

E-Mail

Amy Shobert

!