Joann Hogansan, MSN, RN, is the Division Director of Community Wellness at Kent County Health Department and a registered nurse with years of experience in public health. This year, she developed a program to encourage high schoolers to pursue careers in healthcare. In partnership with Union High School and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), she teaches medical terminology to students twice a week for two college credits as part of GRCC’s dual enrollment program.Â
This program aims to increase inclusivity in healthcare, an area Hogansan identifies as a current challenge. While working in healthcare, she’s noticed a lack of diversity in the healthcare workforce and language barriers to receiving quality care, often a result of difficulty finding interpreters for certain languages. Hogansan’s program encourages and empowers students of all backgrounds to explore the healthcare field.Â
Her 2024 medical terminology class at Union High School consists of 24 students, 20 of whom are students of color and five of whom are refugees or recent immigrants. This program is only available at Union High School since Hogansan is the only educator at this time. However, GRCC is open to expanding the program. Individuals and organizations willing to get involved are encouraged to reach out to Hogansan.
For more information about innovative work happening in Michigan and nationwide, check out our database of healthcare workforce initiatives at www.mhc.org/initiatives.Â