Teens from across the U.P. explore futures in health care

Sometimes, turning dreams into real-life plans becomes possible through awareness of opportunities and mentorship.

That’s what happened at the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health in Marquette in July when high school freshmen and sophomores attended the first-ever Upper Peninsula Future Health Leaders Camp.

The point of the camp’s 2025 inaugural year was to raise awareness and confidence in students considering health care professions. Students could do this through exposure to hands-on techniques in the field, meet professionals, and explore simulation labs.

Educational topics included basic physical health including nutrition and cardiovascular, mental health, and oral health. Additionally, there was structured time to learn about surgical technology radiography, speech-language pathology, audiology, and clinical lab sciences.

“Youth got hands-on patient simulation experience and completed CPR and first aid
certification by the end of the week. Each day began with a health professional
providing insight into their career and each night ended with social and recreational
activities. Lastly, youth learned how to better prepare for college and the steps they can take to ensure a successful college search process in a few years," said Elise Bur, who is director of the NMU Center for Rural Health.

The camp curriculum incorporated academic experiences regarding possible
professions with education on self-care and personal empowerment. Goals included: Educating youth about best practices for living a healthy life; providing an opportunity to explore a variety of health career options; creating and developing new friendships in a fun-filled week of education and activities; and youth to start thinking about their future and how they can truly make an impact.

That immersive experience into health care professions brought some memorable
moments where leaders saw young students’ self-confidence bloom, Bur said.
Witnessing the students’ growth seemed to serve as fuel for Bur and her team to move forward without skipping a beat in assessing this year’s program while already planning for the next.

“Students from some very small towns in the U.P. learned about health careers that
they otherwise didn't know existed and provided multiple opportunities to engage with a variety of health professionals,” Bur said. “Several of the health professionals were born and raised in the U.P., and I think that gave some hope and inspiration to students who haven't realized their potential or the true possibility of what they might be able to do in the future.”

In total, 36 students attended — 33 girls and three boys — representing communities across the entire U.P., including Calumet, Dollar Bay, Chassell, Hancock and L’Anse from the western U.P.; Spaulding, Kingsford, Iron Mountain, Carney, Powers, and Hermansville in the south; Ishpeming, Negaunee, Marquette, Gwinn, and Big Bay in the central U.P.; and Sault Ste. Marie in the east.

A survey at the camp’s conclusion found that more than 90 percent of attendees left
their experience much more aware of career opportunities available to them in
healthcare.

That outcome was one of the primary goals of the camp, the center’s Assistant Director Anna Christiansen said.

“It was amazing to see campers come out of their shells and grow in their confidence in practical health-related skills, like taking blood pressure, but even more so in their belief that pursuing a healthcare profession is really in reach for them, and that there are many, many paths, careers, and ways to do so,” she added. “It was also rewarding to see the NMU students, who served as our camp counselors, grow in their leadership and mentorship skills and really flourish in their roles.”

And as is the case in so many success stories, camp leaders reached their goals for
students through a partnership between NMU staff, faculty, and local healthcare
professionals.

“This camp was collaboration at its very finest,” Christiansen said. “We were able to
work alongside NMU faculty and staff, healthcare professionals from the surrounding communities and hospitals, our local school systems, and more to make this camp such a tremendous success. It's a great illustration of meaningful and effective collaboration between the private and public sector.”

Between local health professions, NMU faculty, staff and student camp counselors,
there were approximately 80 individuals who contributed to the success of the camp.

Organizers plan on this year’s camp to be the first of many. Staff is currently evaluating this year’s camp and moving ahead with plans for the summer of 2026. They would also like to stay connected to the 2025 group’s progress throughout their education.

“We are currently reflecting on how we might remain engaged as well as supportive of attendees throughout their time in high school, college and beyond,” Bur said.

Bur emphasized that though there was a fee to attend, the camp was well supported through sponsorships and donations that were put toward student scholarships.

For more information on the NMU, visit nmu.edu/ruralhealth/home.

Paula McCambridge has been writing and editing for more than 25 years. She won her first awards for feature writing and ongoing news coverage at the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton.