Healthcare Workforce Partnership WNE-MHC Golden Bear Summer Camp
June 23, 2025 – June 27, 2025
The Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers opportunities for high school students to learn about careers in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and occupational therapy through hands-on learning experiences. The free WNE-MHC Golden Bear Summer Camp in June 2025 (named after Western New England’s mascot, the Golden Bear!), giving high school students the chance to learn about exciting careers in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, occupational therapy, and neuroscience. The camp is open to high school students aged 13 to 18, and we will accept the first 35 students who register.
This year’s camp is full!
Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership (BSEP)
Open Enrollment
Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership (BSEP) is a high school healthcare career pathway program for high school-age students. While it is open to students in the Hampden County area, the program prioritizes residents of Springfield, Mass. It includes exploration of many different health careers, a teen mini-medical school, and summer workshops to give students interested in healthcare careers more information about professions and direct access to people currently employed in the field. Since its beginning in 2007, BSEP has served 1,800 students in the program across three course cycles: fall, winter/spring, and summer. Many of the students moved onto post-secondary education and/or employment in the field. The program has provided more than 300 work experiences or internships to residents of Springfield and, currently, over 280 students work Baystate Health. If students wish to join the program, attendance at a BSEP orientation is required. One may register for an orientation at www.healthcarefutures.org.
Student Ambassador – Mini Medical School Program
Summer 2025
The Student Ambassador – Mini Medical School Program at Baystate Wing Hospital (BWH) is an immersive two-week initiative designed to introduce local high school students to a wide range of healthcare careers. This innovative program is developed to support youth in exploring potential pathways in the healthcare field and making informed decisions about their future careers.
During the two-week experience, nine high school students from the Palmer, Massachusetts area participated in a series of structured rotations through six hospital departments. Each rotation offered a blend of hands-on activities and observational learning opportunities, allowing students to gain first-hand insight into the diverse roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
In addition to clinical exposure, students attended interactive educational sessions and received foundational training in key healthcare practices. This included certification in CPR, instruction in Stop the Bleed techniques, and training in hand hygiene protocols. Every day offered a new experience, fostering curiosity and engagement while providing valuable skills and knowledge applicable to future academic and professional pursuits.
Through this pilot program, Baystate Wing Hospital demonstrated its commitment to workforce development and community engagement by inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Application materials are available to select high schools
Springfield College: Partnering with Springfield High Schools to Expand Healthcare Career Exposure for High School Students
Springfield College seeks to establish a partnership with Springfield high schools to provide students with early exposure to careers in healthcare. This collaboration aims to introduce high school students to a wide range of health professions through hands-on experiences, mentorship, campus visits, interactive workshops, and practical training sessions using low-fidelity manikins and Stop the Bleed kits.
Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Chicopee Public School Career Pathways
The Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Chicopee Public School Career Pathways Initiative is a dual enrollment health education option for CCHS students. Students who are enrolled in the Health Science Academy earn college credit through articulation agreements or college classes offered by the College on-line or in person at the high school. The career pathway model links and integrates high school and postsecondary curricula with industry-recognized skills, knowledge and certification. The Initiative is informed by work being conducted within the Pathways to Prosperity Network, an initiative of Jobs for the Future and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Greenfield Community College’s STEM Summer Academy
Summer I — May 20 – July 9 + Summer II — July 14 – August 28
STEM Summer Academy at GCC provides is part of a statewide initiative to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. The program is for students new to STEM (including high school students) who are interested in attending GCC—for free! Participants take a summer science, technology, engineering or math class, receive intensive advising, tutoring and career support, and participate in special STEM-focused activities.
Please contact the SSA Team with any questions about this process at SSARegistration@gcc.mass.edu.
Springfield Technical Community College’s STEM Starter Academy
Summer 2025
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has developed the STEM Starter Academy (SSA) in alignment with the Commonwealth’s directive to expand and diversify the STEM workforce. This comprehensive initiative is designed to support students across a broad spectrum, including high school students, current STCC students, and those pursuing STEM majors at the college. The SSA promotes awareness of the value and growing demand for STEM-related fields by showcasing academic pathways and associated career opportunities. Through a series of structured supports such as summer bootcamps, active learning experiences, access to tutoring, and peer mentoring, the program aims to enhance students’ academic readiness and perseverance in challenging STEM disciplines.
Contact Meghan Bone, STEM Starter Academy Director, mmbone2401@stcc.edu, 413-755-5723
The Westfield Promise
Junior year of high school
The Westfield Promise is an early college program offered through Westfield State in partnership with Westfield Public Schools, Holyoke Public Schools, and The High School of Commerce, Springfield. The program enables high schools students to earn up to 12 college credits by the time they graduate high school, greatly increasing the likelihood that they’ll go on to earn a college degree.
You must be a student at one of the high schools offering The Westfield Promise: Holyoke High School, The High School of Commerce, Springfield, Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy. During your sophomore year of high school, you will receive information about The Westfield Promise, and be invited to information sessions with your family. You’ll receive an application from your high school’s guidance department.
Transition to College & Careers
Fall and Spring Semester
Transition to College & Careers (TCC) at Holyoke Community College is a free program offered both days and evenings designed to help adult students prepare for college and identify a career path. The program offer free versions of developmental English & Math to help students get to college level. We also offer a variety of content courses each semester (Public Speaking, Introduction to Health Careers, Criminal Justice, Sociology, etc) as a way for students to explore courses and strengthen skills. In addition to this, the program offers College Success which is a group that focuses on strategies to be successful in college.
Exploring HealthCare Pathways at Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Baystate Franklin Medical Center presents “Exploring HealthCare Pathways,” an engaging and interactive career exploration event designed for individuals considering a profession in healthcare. This half-day program invites students, job seekers, and community members to learn more about the many career opportunities available within a hospital setting. Hosted at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, located at 164 High Street in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the event takes place throughout the hospital, including the main lobby, conference rooms, and various clinical departments.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
Explore careers in Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) in a hospital setting
Learn about Maternity Care services and roles
Discover the fast-paced world of Emergency Medicine
Connect directly with members of the Human Resources team
Engage in conversations with hospital leadership and department representatives
Receive information about the Baystate Franklin Summer Student Ambassador Program
And much more through a wide array of exhibits and interactive stations
Sign-up sheets will be available in your high school guidance departments in March unless otherwise specified.
Springfield Districtwide Career & Internship Fair
March 24, 2025 (2 Sessions) at 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
The Springfield Public School’s School-to-Career Team and Hope for Youth and Families Inc. invite you to participate in the Springfield Districtwide Career & Internship Fair held at the Basketball Hall of Fame on March 24th.
We are looking for organizations to help promote and educate students on the career opportunities in your industry sectors, and/or who would consider hosting Springfield high school students for internships, post grad opportunities or employment.
We expect nearly 500 students (mostly 11th & 12th graders) to participate from all schools across the city. These students are eager to explore careers, discuss jobs & internships for during the school year or summer, want to apply to your institution, or are eager to learn about full time job opportunities after high school.
EVENT INFO:
When: March 24th (2 Sessions)
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (set Up: 8:00-8:30 AM)
Where: Basketball Hall of Fame
Who: Estimated 500-600 students, mostly 11th & 12th grade students
RSVP: by Feb 10th (space is limited, register early to secure your table)
To register, please complete the form linked below and you will receive follow up information as well as the meeting invitation for our Employer Orientation via Zoom to be held Feb 27th from 3-4 pm to provide an overview of program, event and answer questions.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/HRGjPJ2VLQ
HCC Health, Human, & Animal Services Open House
March 26, 2025 at 4-6 PM
Meet and greet with representatives from the educational programs for health, human and animal services, and admissions, student support services, financial aid, and explore scholarship opportunities. Tour the state-of-the-art classrooms and simulation labs.
Address: Center for Health Education | 404 Jarvis Ave. Holyoke, MA.
REB - REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT BOARD OF HAMPDEN COUNTRY, INC.