MASH Camp: Inspiring the Next Generation of Healthcare Heroes

This summer, more than 30 Yakima Valley high school students participated in MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital’s first MASH Camp. MASH (MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare) Camp is a hands-on, three-day experience designed for students curious about careers in the medical field.

A well-established program across the MultiCare Health System, Yakima Memorial Hospital was proud to bring MASH Camp to the community through the generous support of donors like you. Students explored a wide range of roles, from direct patient care to essential support services like environmental services, information systems and technology, and pathology. Through job shadowing and interactive learning activities, students got a real-world glimpse into health care.

“One of the biggest components is the job shadowing at the hospital,” shares Faviola Gomez, a student placement and development specialist with MultiCare Health System. “Students get experience that not many people their age have.”

Joselyn, a high school junior, heard about MASH Camp through her school counselor and jumped at the chance to apply. She dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse and saw the camp as a way to explore her future.

“I loved MASH Camp,” Joselyn shares. “It was really awesome. I got to shadow a registered nurse named Michael, and I spent one of the days observing a surgery and then helping care for the patient afterward. It definitely cemented in my mind that I want to become a nurse.”

Through your support, programs like MASH Camp are possible. Nearly 100 students applied for the 30 available spots, and the MultiCare Workforce and Student Development team is working to expand the program next year.