On Friday, February 21st, Wabash Valley College welcomed over 500 high school students from the area to the Brubeck Theatre for its Annual Health Professionals Day. The event gave students a unique opportunity to explore careers in the medical field, engage with healthcare professionals, and gain hands-on experience.
A major highlight of the day was the live surgical demonstration, featuring a cadaver limb provided by Arthrex. Many students described it as an eye-opening experience that deepened their interest in medicine. One student remarked, “I thought it was going to be more of a fake surgery, not a real leg!” Others said that seeing a real procedure up close was “incredible” and “something they will never forget.”
In addition to the surgery, students had the chance to interact with cadavers in the lab, which proved to be another favorite experience. One participant shared, “I saw a cadaver for the first time, and it was really cool that we were allowed to touch them.” Others found it especially beneficial to learn about anatomy in such a hands-on way.
The event also featured breakout sessions covering various medical fields, including emergency services, laboratory work, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation services, athletic training and sports medicine, surgery, nursing, and radiology. Many students appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with professionals, ask questions, and explore different career paths. One student reflected, “Hearing from real healthcare workers and being able to ask questions about their experiences was so helpful.” Another said, “The emergency services session was amazing—I really liked seeing a real-life scenario play out.”
Wabash Valley College President and IECC Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Matthew Fowler emphasized the event’s impact, stating, “What an opportunity students had to see and hear firsthand from leading professionals in the healthcare field today at Health Professionals Day. It’s certainly a blessing to partner with Wabash General Hospital to strengthen our community in this way.”
Dr. Justin Miller, Orthopedic Surgeon at Wabash General Hospital, echoed the importance of exposing students to the medical profession: “I didn’t know anybody who was an orthopedic surgeon or had gone to medical school when I was their age. I didn’t even know what questions to ask. I love having the opportunity to give students tips and tricks that I wish I had known at their stage in the game.”
Heather Greenwood, Director of the Southeast Illinois Area Health Education Center at Wabash General Hospital, highlighted the event’s significance: “We had students from two hours away. There’s nothing like this in the state of Illinois, and the fact that we can invite students from as close as five minutes away or as far as two hours away to fill the campus is a truly unique opportunity that not many high school students across America have. It’s a diamond in the rough, and for it to happen in a small town like Mount Carmel—it’s really amazing.”
Thanks to the collaboration between Wabash Valley College, Wabash General Hospital, Southeast Illinois AHEC, and support from professionals across the IECC district, this year’s Health Professionals Day was a resounding success. Students left the event inspired, informed, and eager to pursue careers in the healthcare industry.
