Montana Librarian Supports Students Learning about Health Careers

Posted by liaison on April 18th, 2022 Posted in: #CC/Academic List, #Health Interest List, #Health Sciences List, #Public/K-12 List, All Members

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A K-12 librarian in western Montana used money secured from NNLM Region 4 to fund travel to a state conference for six students envisioning health careers, a faculty advisor and herself.

Charlotte Slaughter, librarian at Anaconda Junior-Senior High School, applied for funding under the region’s Professional Development Award that enabled the group to attend the HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference in Billings on April 5-6. Formerly known as the Health Occupations Student Association, HOSA serves as a support for students interested in the health professions.

The experience allowed Slaughter to deliver materials to augment the health science curriculum in her school, such as books, databases, manipulatives, and outside professionals’ expertise.  She also learned how to prepare students for the various health fields that interest them.

“Professionally I will be more knowledgeable in the health area in general,” Slaughter wrote in her follow-up report on the experience. “I will be able to promote the health professionals in our community.”

As for the students who accompanied her, they got a chance to compete in various events, including research posters, mock scenarios, and a team-based “HOSA Bowl.”

Based on the professional development experience, Slaughter created puzzle pieces on the digestive system and the circulatory system with the library’s 3-D printer.  “I’m hoping students will have fun with these manipulatives and learn the different systems for health … through the library,” she said.

NNLM offers professional development awards of up to $2,000 for activities like conferences, workshops or guest speaker engagements through most of the year. Keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement about Region 4’s newest round of awards after May 1.

You can find out more about HOSA by visiting the organization’s website at https://hosa.org/.