PEORIA, Ill. – Competing healthcare companies, higher education institutions, and Peoria Public Schools are coming together to try and fill healthcare jobs in central Illinois.
This week, six institutions came together to announce the formation of the Greater Peoria Healthcare Education Consortium.
The six include Bradley University, Carle Health and Methodist College, Illinois Central College, OSF Healthcare & St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, Peoria Public Schools, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria.
“They realize that if they can get more people interested in medical careers, more young people and just ordinary people, interested in medical careers, then they’ll all do better and help to fill this pipeline,” said Greater Peoria Economic Development Council CEO Chris Setti.
One of the main objectives is getting more younger people interested in medical careers, with a few initiatives planned. One idea is establishing Healthcare Clubs in local high schools, which Setti says would be an after-school program that shows off various aspects of healthcare. He says the goal is to establish at least ten clubs in the area.
Another would be mobile classrooms that visit area schools to talk about healthcare careers, which Setti says would be similar to what manufacturing companies do.
The consortium already has more than 40 students enrolled in its Medical Immersion program, and is raising funds through contributions, grants, and fundraising to support its programs.
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