Discover Healthcare Event in NW WI Brings Healthcare Careers to Students

Over 100 students from regional high schools attended an innovative career-experience event in Ashland, WI on Friday, April 28th. With 23 hands-on activities, students had the opportunity to experience what it's like to work in a variety of healthcare careers. From radiology technician to dentistry, Discover Healthcare offered students multiple opportunities to learn, explore, and connect with healthcare professionals.

Discover Healthcare events are coordinated by a collaboration of partners including healthcare professionals from local and regional facilities, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development entities. Sponsors for the Ashland, WI event were Essentia Health, Memorial Medical Center, and Northwood Technical College.

The next Discover Healthcare event will be held in Hibbing, MN on November 2nd.
Meet NORTHFORCE Intern Jessica Polencheck

Jessica Polencheck, a student from Northwood Technical College- Ashland Campus chose to complete her internship with NORTHFORCE this spring. Her main responsibilities included helping with the Discover Healthcare NW WI event. Jessica helped with all aspects of the event, including being the contact for healthcare professionals, assisting with set-up and event coordination, and creating surveys and correspondence for healthcare vendors, schools, and volunteers.

"Hello! My name is Jessica, and I am currently in my last year of the Gerontology program at Northwood Tech in Ashland, WI. I live in Ashland County with my husband and two girls. We have cattle and a rescue horse named, Sugar.

I love everything outdoors and find most of my peace on the deck with a coffee
looking over pastures at our livestock. I also enjoy more recent hobbies such as gardening and canning.

I really enjoyed being part of the NORTHFORCE team to help coordinate the Discover Healthcare event!"