Keeping Healthy: Why Our State Needs MASH CAMP
By: Elsa Gillis
Updated: August 2, 2012
It's called MASH Camp - and while it does have to do with the medical field - there's no relation to the medical TV drama. The drama here is a dire need for health care professionals.
Mike Ogden, President and CEO of Little Falls Hospital, explains the need. "We have an increasing demand as the baby boomers are aging and with public policy decision like the accountable care act which are going to increase the need for health care workers."
And that's where MASH Camp steps in. It's a two day camp that takes place across New York at various hospitals for 8th and 9th graders - allowing students to get hands on experience in the medical field. And with a recognized shortage of all health care workers- not just doctors - the goal is also to expose students to the hospitals in their own backyard.
"Most of our hospitals are in rural areas; because we kind of want them to come back and practice here, that's kind of our point."
Brianna Yetsko, a rep from the sponsor and organizer of MASH camp, Central New York Area Health Education Center tells Eyewitness News the idea is to show kids what it's really like to work in the medical field.
"I can say specifically right now we just hired a nurse that went through the MASH camp several years ago and it was that experience that led her to choose a career path in nursing," Ogden says.
And CNYHAEC follows students through their high school and college careers. They are there to steer students in a path towards a medical profession. But it's not all serious work - it's a camp and fun for the campers and staff.
"It really does provide a morale boost for everyone because so many of our directors and managers, they really enjoy teaching and it's motivating for our staff, and for me it's really exciting to see the potential," says Ogden.
