Medical Explorer Post
Considering a career in healthcare?
The St. Francis Medical Explorer Post is a great way for young people to learn more about what it takes to have a career in healthcare. This Medical Explorers Post started in 1986, and is one of the oldest continuously operating medical exploring posts in the country. It’s is a fun, non-traditional educational program for students ages 15-20 trying to decide if a health care career might be in their future.
The St. Francis Medical Explorer Post begins activities each year in September with meetings taking place once each month.
What is Exploring?
Exploring exists to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences and mentorship provided by community and business leaders. By working together, these leaders help to equip young people with character, leadership and life skills that can be used both today and in their future careers.
Exploring serves two different age groups, both coed. While Explorer Clubs serve middle schoolers, aged 10-13, in sixth through eighth grades, Explorer Posts – like the one at St. Francis – serve older youth 14-20 years old. The program model is the same for both age groups – hands-on and interactive character and career activities are facilitated by trained leaders in the sponsoring organization.
Want to learn more?
Click here to visit the national website on Exploring: http://www.exploring.org
"Exploring is a great program that helped me associate the concepts I am learning in high school with practical uses in the real world."
- Frank B., Exploring Youth Participant
Keith Higgins is Medical Explorer Post Advisor
Keith Higgins is the Post Advisor for the St. Francis Medical Explorer Post. Keith is a Patient Care Director at St. Francis where he has served for the past three years. He is a seasoned healthcare and nursing leader with more than 37 years of experience. Keith earned his B.S. degree in Nursing from Jacksonville State University and his M.B.A from University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a Certified Nurse Executive with ANCC and is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
"We have representatives from several departments that enjoy sharing not only their factual career advice with students, but also their passion and dedication for their chosen profession," Keith said. "Students have the opportunity to interact with these real healthcare professionals who are providing patients with great care every day. We have great interaction during the department tours, with inquisitive questions from students and real-world answers from our expert staff. This type of information is so valuable as students make decisions about health care careers.