Middle & High School
Southern Vermont AHEC offers school presentations, afterschool enrichment, extended summer programming, and job shadow opportunities. Southern Vermont AHEC would love to share with your students the numerous and exciting possibilities of a career in health! For middle school and high school programming, contact Alysia Straw, Acting Director of Programs at astraw@svtahec.org
Two MedQuest students practicing CPR on a mannequin used in the simulation lab at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
MEDQUEST
MedQuest is our long standing health careers exploration program for high school students.
We are excited to be offering two MedQuest Programs this Summer 2026.
July 20-22: Southwestern Medical Center, Bennington, Vermont.
July 29-31: Mt. Ascutney Hospital & Health Center, Ascutney, Vermont.
Registrations will begin February 2026. Stay tuned for more details! If you want to receive further information about MedQuest contact Alysia Straw at (802) 885.2126 x106
Health Career Exploration Activities and Presentations
Project PAVE (Pathways by AHECs using VR Education)
Southern Vermont AHEC is one of 7 regions nationally to receive federal funds via the National AHEC Organization’s US Department of Labor Workforce Pathways grant. These funds will enable us to bring virtual reality technologies for health career exploration and skill-building to youth ages 14-21.
We are looking to partner with schools and youth-serving organizations to share the amazing VR modules by Transfr with youth during in-school and out-of-school time in Southern Vermont.
HERO (Health Education Resources and Opportunities) Afterschool Program
HERO is an afterschool program connecting middle and high school students to health professionals who have volunteered to engage in activities focused on exploring health careers. The goal of the program is to increase health literacy and career planning for participating students.
The program currently works with 7-12th graders attending Rutland City Public Schools Allen Street Campus but welcomes expansion to other afterschool programs in Southern Vermont.
Two students from Allen Street Campus in Rutland, VT, along with faculty members Betty Hughes and Carol Renfrow, are in the sterilization room at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
Classroom and Afterschool Activities
Southern Vermont AHEC staff are happy to visit any classroom (middle school, high school, college) or afterschool program to provide health career exploration activities, resources, and materials. Presentations can be tailored to any topic and audience.
Some popular presentation modules include:
- Introduction/Overview of Health Careers with an activity on how to research career information online
- Healthcare Teamwork Simulation Activity with Potato head toys
- Therapeutic/Clinical Careers with suture activity
- Mental/Behavioral Health Careers with self-care kit activity
- Public Health Careers with health empathy activity
To schedule any of the listed activity options for your classroom or group, or to propose something new, please contact our Acting Director of Programs.
