LANSING, Mich. –University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing welcomed dozens of Lansing Technical High School students on Thursday, April 3, as part of a new partnership with the Lansing School District aimed at opening doors to careers in health care.

The students – who are in the high school’s newly launched Health Sciences program — participated in a hands-on tour that allowed them to engage directly with UM Health-Sparrow’s highly skilled professionals in radiology, phlebotomy, pharmacy and other health care fields.

“This is about more than showing students what happens inside a hospital,” said Margaret Dimond, regional president, University of Michigan Health. “It’s about lighting a spark — helping young people see themselves in these careers and understand the role they can play in improving health in their own community.”

The initiative comes at a time when the health care industry continues to face significant workforce shortages. By introducing students to medical professions early, leaders hope to build a more robust, diverse and local pipeline of future health care workers.

“Our students are getting the opportunity to step into real clinical environments, ask questions, and picture what a future in health care could look like,” said Lansing School District Superintendent Ben Shuldiner. “This kind of exposure is transformative; it turns abstract concepts into real possibilities.”

The tour marks the first of several planned initiatives between UM Health-Sparrow and Lansing schools. As part of this new partnership, organizers are also exploring future opportunities for internships, mentorships and certification programs to help students transition directly from high school into health care careers.

Check back in – in coming days, as MBN was on hand for an interview and then has some event video and photos to share.