HAP Launches Virtual Health Care Career Day for Students

November 13, 2025

Today, students from across Pennsylvania began their exploration of future careers in health care by participating in HAP’s virtual health care career day. The event was live-streamed into classrooms, and highlighted clinical roles with exciting videos, filmed at Pennsylvania hospitals. The interactive event provided students with an opportunity to ask questions of health care professionals following each video.

“Health care is one of the most important and in-demand fields you can choose,” said Nicole Stallings, HAP president and CEO. “In every role—whether it’s at the bedside, in the lab or behind the computer screen—you have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of your friends and your neighbors every day. Pennsylvania’s hospitals are hiring. The need for skilled professionals is growing in every community across the commonwealth.”

The career day is one way HAP is working to address the ongoing health care workforce crisis. Despite improvement since the pandemic, hospitals continue to report double-digit, statewide average vacancy rates for nurses, advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals­—including 19 percent for registered nurses and 17 percent for nursing support staff. Rural hospitals report even greater hiring challenges.

Here are some key takeaways: 

• In demand:  Today’s event focused on five careers: surgical technology, respiratory therapy, radiology technology, nursing, and cybersecurity/IT.
• Significant need:  Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry data projects that each year through 2032, Pennsylvania will need to add 8,890 more registered nurses and 11,232 more nursing assistants.
• A day in the life:  Students had an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work day of health care professionals in the five key professions identified. They heard stories describing their education, training, and personal journey.
• Premier partnerships:  The event featured presentations by UPMC Shadyside, Geisinger, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
• Quotable:  “The commonwealth is investing in your future—expanding training programs, creating scholarships and tuition support and connecting schools, colleges and hospitals—so students can prepare for in-demand jobs. We want to help you build a strong and meaningful career close to home, right here in PA,” Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania secretary of health, told students.

Students from more than 150 schools across Pennsylvania participated, including students from public and charter schools and home-schooled students. Plans are underway to continue the program next year and feature other in-demand health care positions.

Learn more online.