Inspiring future healthcare leaders through Montana’s MedStart program

To make a real impact on the future of healthcare, we have to start at the beginning. That means investing in young minds and opening doors to opportunities. 

This belief drives our commitment to programs like MedStart, which connect high school students with hands-on experiences and mentorship in healthcare settings across Montana. Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City and St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings play a vital role in this through their active involvement in the MedStart program every year.

The MedStart program is a statewide initiative designed to inspire high school students to pursue careers in health sciences. This summer, Holy Rosary and St. Vincent welcomed more than 40 students to their hospitals and nearby clinics as part of the week-long camp. 

MedStart, a program of the Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC), targets sophomores, juniors, and seniors from diverse backgrounds, including rural, low-income, and future first-generation college students. The program provides exposure to healthcare careers, college life, and professional development through immersive activities. 

Holy Rosary has been proudly involved in the program since 2018. This year, 19 students participated in an event at Holy Rosary in July. 

“We set up a mock code with our respiratory therapist, the kids had just taken CPR the prior day, so the idea was to get them involved and going and part of the code. It was really good exposure for them,” said Holy Rosary business coordinator Renee Chappell, who helped organize the event.

Students shadowed professionals in various departments, including radiology, nursing, EMT services, and physical therapy. Renee tailored the experience to be manageable and impactful, adjusting the job shadowing duration and organizing unique demonstrations like echocardiograms and dry needling.

“Thankfully our staff was so willing to come and provide this education for the students,” she said. “Showing them different types of real tests, like an echo, was really rewarding and I was thankful I could count on our caregivers to take the time for these individual learnings.”

A few of the students were so inspired by their experience that they signed up to become volunteers. “A couple of them were actually like, ‘how can I get more involved? Can I volunteer?’ So we had two kids fill out volunteer applications, which is so great,” Renee said.

Javon Dutton, an 11th grade student from Custer County District High School, was eager to share her positive experience. “The MedStart Camp exceeded my expectations. It gave me a different perspective on rural healthcare and how important it is to give back to your community,” she said.

Holy Rosary’s support of the program included a $5,000 sponsorship from the hospital’s foundation, which covered the cost of camp for 10 students.

“It was just a real good hometown feel overall. That’s what they always say about our MedStart camp — it’s the best because we’re such a small town and we have great involvement with our whole community,” Renee said.

Through impactful programs like MedStart, Holy Rosary and St. Vincent are helping to ensure a bright future for rural healthcare in Montana by investing in the next generation.