OCALA, FL. (352today)– HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are celebrating a successful first year of a three-year grant program by congratulating hundreds of local high school students for learning more about healthcare, including pursuing potential careers in the field.
HCA Healthcare Foundation, through its Healthier Tomorrow Fund, announced a $1 million grant last year to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to help fund its Career Pathways to a Healthier Florida program. The Public Education Foundation of Marion County (PEFMC) received $60,000 from the grant to support students in Belleview High School, Lake Weir High School, North Marion High School, and West Port High School.
In Marion County, the grant supports opportunities for students enrolled in the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) program at their respective schools. During the program’s first year, participating students learned about anatomy, medical terminology, and healthcare ethics, and received specialized training in occupations such as nursing, certified nursing assistant, certified medical assistant, and patient care technician…