12 May 2008

Pupils to get insight into careers in health

Photo opportunities any morning of the event: Tuesday - Friday from 10 am
Seminar Room B, University of Dundee Medical School

Schoolchildren across Tayside will be given an insight into the range of careers available across the health services at a series of events being staged at the University of Dundee this week.

WHAN (Working in Health Access Network) is a Scotland-wide project which aims to raise awareness of health sector careers among school pupils who might not aspire to such careers.

Around 300 third-year pupils are expected to attend this week’s sessions where they will see demonstrations and be given career advice from experts in areas as varied as Biomechanics, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Sports and Exercise, and Nursing and Physiotherapy.

"What we want to show is the vast range of possible careers that exist across the health services and which can be accessed by anyone," said Gordon Black, co-ordinator of WHAN Tayside.

"When people think of the health services they tend to think of doctors and nurses, but there are so many other avenues to working in the sector. Schoolchildren who are considering possible future careers should know that these exist and that they are within their reach."

"This week the schoolchildren will get to meet first-hand a whole ranvge of health professionals who can give them direct advice on how they can proceed with careers across the sector."

This week’s events - taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday- are being staged at the University’s Medical School in Ninewells Hospital.

WHAN (Tayside) is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Fife and Tayside Wider Access Forum. The partner institutions in WHAN (Tayside) are the University of Dundee, Angus College, Dundee College and the University of Abertay Dundee.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk