Designed for local high school, community college, and college students, the Health Career Speaker Series at Cal Poly Humboldt will feature an array of health professionals from physicians and dentists to speech pathologists and physical therapists.
“We're thrilled to offer students in our area the chance to explore the wide range of health-related careers through the perspectives and experiences of professionals in the field,” says Justus Ortega, Associate Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt.
The series will be capped with a panel of students currently enrolled in related academic programs at Humboldt and College of the Redwoods. Afterward, attendees can connect with program leaders, who will offer guidance on coursework, grades, clinical experiences, and other key steps needed to strengthen their chances of admission into postgraduate healthcare programs.
A consortium of partners developed the program: the Humboldt County Office of Education, the Humboldt-Del Norte Medical Society, the Humboldt Medical Educational Task Force, College of the Redwoods, Cal Poly Humboldt, and the Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program.
The speaker series is sponsored by the Healthcare Education Hub, a collaboration between College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt to shape the future of a robust healthcare workforce on the North Coast. In 2022, California Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire announced a $10 million investment to create a space that will be shared by both institutions. The hub, located in Arcata, will have classrooms, instructional labs, and other facilities for training health professionals, including nurses and technicians.
“We are excited to embark on a new chapter with the opening of our joint state-of-the-art Healthcare training facility in 2027,“ says Jessica Howard, Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Pathways at College of the Redwoods. “This facility, along with our speaker series, will empower our students, foster innovation and excellence in healthcare education, and connect students to real-world opportunities. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare, one student at a time.”
Health Career Speaker Series
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 13
Location: Cal Poly Humboldt, Gist Hall, Rm 218
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
FREE
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology
Featuring experts from diverse therapeutic careers that look at how the body moves through physical, functional and vocal learning.
- Trevor Carlson, founder, Therapy Kids
- Amiee Keiser, Llad occupational therapist, Humboldt County Office of Education; in-home provider for Wild Souls Ranch; and occupational therapist, Providence St. Joseph Hospital
- Sarah Landis, founder, Axis Physical Therapy
- Janet McLellan, speech language pathologist, California Department of Education Diagnostic Center, Northern California
For more details about the ongoing Health Career Speaker Series, check humboldt.edu/featured-events.