High school students explore healthcare careers at UMMC
ummc exploring health care pathways event
SOURCE: 16 WAPT
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Updated: 1:14 PM CDT Aug 22, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Omose Ighodaro
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
High school students explore healthcare careers at UMMC
Updated: 1:14 PM CDT Aug 22, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Omose Ighodaro
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
JACKSON, Miss. —
Hundreds of Mississippi high school students spent Saturday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) exploring what it takes to build a career in health care
The annual Exploring Health Care Pathways event introduced high school juniors and seniors to health care careers and gave them a look at the path to get there
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“We feel like if we engage students early enough in their high school career, it may give them a motivation and a path to becoming a healthcare official,” said Dan Coleman, UMMC’s director of outreach
Students were able to explore UMMC’s six health science schools, including nursing, dentistry and medicine. They also learned about admission requirements, college preparation, and scholarships
For high school junior Layla Roberts, the event helped her consider a career she hadn’t initially planned on pursuing. Roberts said she was interested in law but is now considering becoming a physician
“What made me change is seeing how bad people suffer when it comes to getting healthcare,” Roberts said. “Seeing people suffer from getting healthcare access and getting what they need.”
UMMC leaders say introducing students to health care careers early is especially important as Mississippi works to address its health care workforce needs. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Mississippi has the nation’s lowest number of direct patient-care physicians per capita
“Particularly those in underserved areas, may not have even been exposed to healthcare and not know that it’s an opportunity for them,” said Demondes Haynes, associate dean of admissions for UMMC’s School of Medicine. “We rank 49th and 50th for most healthcare issues and outcomes, particularly when you look at maternal morbidity and mortality and infant mortality.”
UMMC leaders say the free event is held annually and hope more students continue to attend to help build Mississippi’s future health care workforce
“If you see yourself being a physician, it’s possible. If you see yourself being a dentist, it’s possible,” Coleman said. “Whatever healthcare field you feel like you would like to pursue, then it’s possible.”
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