Fairfax, VA — Inova Fairfax Hospital hosted 50 young women, grades 7th-12th, for a workforce development program designed to encourage students to explore healthcare career opportunities. The event was dedicated to empowering young minds in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and promoting awareness about cardiovascular health to coincide with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Heart Disease Campaign through a day of discovery and inspiration.
“The goal is to create more opportunities for youth and young adult women to explore healthcare careers and paths, thus reimagining more front doors to healthcare institutions,” commented Tiffany Latham, DNP, NP, Acute Care Advanced Practice Provider, Cardiac Critical Care, Inova Fairfax Hospital. “Throughout the day, Inova team members led rotations, provided hands-on experiences, answered questions and provided insights into the world of healthcare.”
The Dream B!G event divided participants into four dynamic groups — Pulse Pioneers, Vascular Visionaries, Artery Aviators, and CardioGEMS as they embarked on a journey through STEM healthcare career opportunities for their consideration.
The afternoon featured a Lunch and Learn session to include a panel discussion focused on “Empowering Young Hearts: Navigating the Path to Cardiovascular Wellness from Student to STEMinist.” Afterwards, STEMinists participated in roundtable discussions with team members while enjoying lunch and fostering personal connections, sparking meaningful conversations, and mentoring opportunities.
Nadia Shorter, a 10th grade participant, stated, “When I attended the STEMinist program, I gained perspective on what life would be like as a doctor, and a feeling of support and security in my dream.”
Inova is committed to building a culture of inclusion and workplace that inspires a sense of belonging in every team member. By offering opportunities for youth and adults to explore healthcare career paths, Dream B!G hopes to inspire individuals to pursue healthcare careers and promote a more inclusive workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we have the privilege to serve.
Visit Inova Dream B!G for more information.
We are Inova, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. With expertise and compassion, we partner with our patients to help them stay healthy. We treat illness, heal injury and look at a patient’s whole health to help them flourish. Through our expansive network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers and outpatient services, Inova cares for more than one million patients annually, delivering the best clinical care and a seamless experience. Consistently ranked and recognized as a national healthcare leader in safety, quality and patient experience, Inova’s world-class care is made possible by the strength and breadth of our network, our 22,000 team members, our technology and our innovation. Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provides high-quality healthcare to every person in every community we are privileged to serve – regardless of ability to pay – every day of their life. More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.
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