WCU Holds Health Care Careers Symposium
Hattiesburg, Miss., February 26, 2014 - William Carey University's Office of Admissions held a symposium for high school students interested in health care careers on February 19. Representatives from Jones County Junior College Nursing and Allied Health Programs, Pearl River Community College Nursing and Allied Health Programs, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Medical Programs, The University of Southern Mississippi College of Nursing and College of Health, WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM), WCU School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, and WCU School of Nursing were present and led breakout sessions to present information about the programs they offer.
Participating high schools were Lamar County Vo-Tech, Marion County Vo-Tech, Petal High School, Perry County Vo-Tech, and Sacred Heart High School. There were also home school students in attendance, as well.
During the general session in Smith Auditorium, Jessica Clark, undergraduate admissions counselor/recruiter for WCU, Dr. Daniel Edney, a physician with River Region Health System in Vicksburg and former WCU Board of Trustee member, and Dr. Jim Weir, associate dean of student affairs for WCUCOM, addressed the students. Two breakout sessions followed, allowing students to ask questions and learn more about individual programs. Following the breakout sessions, everyone gathered for an assembly allowing each representative to present an overview of their programs. Ryan Kelly, chief advancement officer at WCU and executive director of the Mississippi Rural Health Association, and Dr. Wahnee Sherman, executive director of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, also presented at the assembly.
A luncheon in the Student Conference Center followed the presentations. After introduction from Kristina Wheat, admissions counselor at WCU, and a prayer from Dr. Scott Hummel, provost, three keynote speakers addressed the students. The speakers were Dr. Peggy Davis, assistant dean of admissions at UMMC, Dr. Italo Subbarao, associate professor of medicine and associate dean of planning, assessment, and competency development at the WCUCOM, and Dr. Michael Madaris, assistant professor of business at WCU and a cancer survivor.
The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola, Mississippi Rural Health Association, and Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program.