The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's Workforce Development department recently coordinated field trips for local middle and high school students to visit health care facilities in the county.

Over 100 Students from local schools visited Adams Place, Interfaith Dental Clinic, St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital, TriStar StoneCrest Hospital and Murfreesboro Medical Clinic.

Georgette Barnes, a Health Science teacher at Oakland High School, attended the tour with her students.

"I felt that the students gained a deeper understanding of the many roles that they could play in the healthcare industry and they were able to see firsthand the importance of each professional," said Barnes. "The best part for me was to be able to say that I saw a human brain! It was awesome. I left the tours with great information about the kinds of shortages that will be available to my students as well as a possible internship opportunity for them to use in future classes."

"Students that were not even interested in the pathway were asking more questions and interested in the technology that was being used then some of the students who have dreamed of becoming a part of healthcare for many years. One student was even offered the chance for job shadowing in Microbiology, an opportunity had I not gone on the tour, I would not have been aware existed."

Beth Duffield, Vice President of Workforce Development for the Chamber of Commerce, said, "As our community continues to grow, so does our need for health care professionals. Projections tell us we will need an additional 3,000 health care workers in the next nine years. The Chamber believes that we have to grow our pipeline of talent beginning in middle school. Field trips help spark imagination and allow for visual career exploration. We are fortunate that eight Rutherford County High Schools have Health Science Education programs where students can begin the preparation for careers in this industry."

To learn more about Rutherford Works, visit www.rutherfordworks.com.