ABSTRACT
Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Independent School District created in 1972 the Houston High School for Health Professions (HSHP). Fifteen years later, Baylor conducted a follow-up study of HSHP graduates to determine whether the high school has been successful in encouraging and supporting young people to pursue health professional careers. Of the 2,033 students who graduated from the HSHP between 1975 and 1987, 951 (46.8%) returned usable responses to the survey. The results raised some concerns about the value of the high school's counseling services and showed that financial barriers posed problems for many students in their pursuit of health-related careers. Also, the results suggest that gender stereotyping may influence the students' career choices. Overall, however, the results of the survey were clearly favorable and provide evidence that the HSHP has been successful in fostering its students' pursuit of careers in the health professions and related careers.
Subject(s)
Career Choice , Health Occupations/education , Schools/standards , Students/psychology , Counseling/standards , Data Collection , Educational Status , Ethnicity , Female , Gender Identity , Health Occupations/economics , Health Occupations/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Schools/statistics & numerical data , Stereotyping , Surveys and Questionnaires , TexasABSTRACT
In response to reports and trends suggesting a national shortage of health professionals, a survey was administered to graduates from Houston's High School for Health Professions, in part to measure their interests in pursuing higher education and careers in the allied health fields. Project administrators were concerned that only 82 of 1,028 survey respondents indicating a career choice (8.0%) expressed interests in allied health. The career choices, educational pursuits, perceptions regarding likelihood of career attainment, and factors influencing career attainment of these 82 respondents were examined. Ultimately, it is believed that many students are unaware of allied health professions, and that others simply do not perceive allied health disciplines as attractive career options. Results of this study are consistent with other reports suggesting that new strategies must be employed nationally to promote greater participation in allied health, especially by groups previously underrepresented in these professions.
