The Health Science Kuder Career Cluster orients students to careers that promote health, wellness and diagnosis, as well as treatment of injuries and diseases. Some careers involve working directly with people, while others involve research into diseases or the collection and analysis of data. Health-service employees work at a variety of different sites. Some work in hospitals, clinics, offices or laboratories. Others work on cruise ships, at sports arenas or within schools and communities.
Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing industry because of: an aging population; new forms of information technology; the need for multi-skilled workers; the move toward preventative and primary care; the increase in outpatient surgery; a decrease in the number of health-care workers in rural and inner city areas; the increase in retirement of mature workers and movement into other professions.
As a result of a growing industry, the educational opportunities for the Health Science cluster are growing as well. With the increase in high-tech equipment each year, more skilled and trained workers are required who can operate and repair the machines.
Learners in high school need a solid background in math, science, communication and technical skills. Education and training can be obtained in high schools, technical colleges, two-year community colleges, four-year programs, graduate and medical schools or apprenticeship programs.
This cluster is broken into five pathways:
Students who want to pursue either of these career pathways should investigate the following Cincinnati Public Schools:
Blending clinical internships with academic and pre-professional courses, this program prepares students to enter higher education in therapeutic health-related fields such as nursing, physical and occupational therapy, athletic training, pharmacy and medicine.
The intense academic program emphasizes science, math and communication skills and basic human relations and computer skills.
Volunteering in health settings is an important part of the program. Students are required as a part of this program to do summer volunteer work.
All freshman and sophomore students in this program take introductory courses in the health professions and have multiple opportunities to visit health care agencies. As juniors and seniors, they participate in internships in a health care setting where they work with and shadow professionals. They have opportunities to learn skills first hand and experience the working conditions for this cluster. Juniors also have an opportunity to take the Ohio test to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
This hands-on program prepares students for careers in the healthcare industry, the nation's third-largest employer.
Students are introduced to the fields of biotechnology, laboratory science, radiology and medical assisting. Students perform a variety of technical functions, including organizing and evaluating health information, compiling health statistics and coding diseases.