The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a tour, lunch, and breakout sessions with deans and chairs from SEMO’s College of Education, Health, and Human Studies and College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  

“We have so many options for students in the areas of the health professions, and we want them to have the opportunity to engage with faculty and students to find the path that is right for them,” said Joe Pujol, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies.

Students will get a front-row seat to some of the healthcare options Southeast has to offer, including the state-of-the-art nursing laboratories and the Center for Speech and Hearing. Students will also hear about SEMO’s allied health partnerships, including the respiratory therapy partnership with the Cape Career and Technology Center.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1.8 million job openings are projected in healthcare each year, and the employment need is expected to grow in the next ten years. Southeast offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven different departments. Of Southeast graduates, 96% report being employed or taking the next step in their education within six months of graduation.

"The high school students who visit with us on Health Professions Day will have the chance to see our facilities and learn more about how they can prepare for their future,” Pujol said. “Whether it is an undergraduate program or starting here to prepare for medical school or physical therapy school, we work hard to help them be successful.”

They’ll have the chance to meet with various faculty members and hear about the experience-based curriculum at Southeast.

“Ultimately, this is about serving the Southeast Missouri region,” Pujol said. “Preparing health professionals who can return to their communities and impact lives.”