Area high school students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field have the opportunity to participate in a summer shadowing program.

The Mizell Memorial Hospital has offered this program for more than 15 years, marketing coordinator Kristen Averitt said.

Averitt said that the hospital is looking for 24 students for two shadowing sessions.

The first session will start with orientation on June 8, then with the actual session that will be from June 11-28.

The second session will have orientation on July 13.

The session will then begin on July 16 and end on August 2.

Students will begin work at 8 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the course of their selected sessions.

“This just gives students the chance to experience different departments within a hospital and find out what they want to pursue in the medical field,” Averitt said.

“We want students to have an easier time making decisions on what they want to do from real world experience.”

Students will have an opportunity to spend one day in each department at the hospital.

“They’ll cycle through the emergency department, respiratory therapy, radiology department, lab department and physical therapy,” Averitt said.

Averitt said that this is a great opportunity for students to receive advice from professionals in their jobs.

“They’ll have a chance to speak to medical professionals in their jobs about what they had to do to get where they are and what is expected of them within the career field. It’s just a really helpful program.”

Any student 14 (or entering ninth grade) to 18 years of age may apply to the program.

Parents must give written permission for their child to participate.

All program participants are required to attend the orientation meeting.

“Orientation will cover several important topics,” Averitt said.

“Such as the code of conduct and safety issues.”

During orientation, students will also have time to tour the hospital, meet with department managers and receive a scrub top as well as an identification badge.

Participants are also required to submit a physician’s statement and receive a TB skin test during orientation.

Three references are required per application, two from the teachers within the student’s school.

The deadline to submit all forms for application is May 16, 2018.

For more information, contact Kristen Averitt at 334-493-5511.