MN Rural Youth Get Exposed to World of Healthcare at St. Cloud Event

April 23, 2026

Nearly 70 Minnesota youth were introduced to the world of healthcare on April 18 at the Rural Youth Medical Careers Discovery Day, held on the campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud. 

The event, geared for youth ages 9-14+, was done as a partnership between the MMA and the University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud, with support from the CentraCare Foundation. The event was also done in collaboration with the Minnesota Rural Health Association, the University of Minnesota Pre-Health Student Resource Center, and Gillette Children’s. 

A team effort! Kim Tjaden, MD, MPH, chair of the MMA Board of Trustees (left); Jill Amsberry, DO, assistant dean of undergraduate medical education, University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud; Juliana Milhofer, JD, MMA manager of public health policy & community health partnerships; and Maryam Abdulwahab and Sabrin Khalif, both pre-med students at the University of Minnesota.

Parents/guardians in attendance also had a chance to learn more about the important role that they can play in supporting their children’s interest in healthcare careers – through a panel discussion titled, “Growing Your White Coat.” This panel showcased the various parts of the physician journey -- pre-med student, medical student, resident, attending physician. 

The youth in attendance had the opportunity to step into the world of medicine through interactive experiences like X-ray imaging, suturing, casting and splinting, administering vaccines, and phlebotomy.  

A grandmother and her grandson learn casting skills from a staff member at Gillette Children’s.

During the lunch hour, youth and their parents/guardians had a chance to visit a Career Exploration Fair and connect with representatives from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, MMA, Minnesota Rural Health Association, Saint Cloud Technical & Community College, University of Minnesota Pre-Health Student Resource Center, and University of Minnesota Rochester.