Recap: Health Careers Expo 2026

On April 13, the TalentEd team hosted its 2026 Health Careers Expo at Schoolcraft College, bringing together students, educators, and health care partners for an interactive day of career exploration focused on the Detroit Region’s most in-demand health care roles. Students from four local high schools, along with participants from Grand Valley State University’s TRIO/Upward Bound program, engaged directly with 20 health care professionals and postsecondary institutions to explore what a future in health care could look like. 

The expo offered students hands-on activities, simulations, and authentic conversations that went beyond a traditional career fair and helped make health care pathways feel real and attainable.

Post-event survey responses show that the expo had a meaningful impact on students’ career interests, helping participants clarify their goals and better understand the education and training required for health care careers. 

As one student shared, “This made me more interested in going into health care.”
Another noted, “It helped me understand what education I’ll need.” 

Several students described how the expo expanded their awareness of career possibilities: 

“I learned about careers I didn’t know existed.” 

“It showed me there are many ways to work in health care.” 

For many, direct engagement with professionals was a turning point. “Talking to professionals helped me picture myself in a health care career,” one student reflected, while another added, “After the expo, I’m more confident about choosing a health care pathway.” 

Hands‑on, interactive learning was consistently highlighted as the most impactful element of the expo. Students engaged in activities such as: 

• CPR and airway management 

• Tourniquet application 

• Venipuncture 

• EMT-style patient scenarios 

• Immersive virtual reality demonstrations 

These experiences helped connect classroom learning to real-world health care environments. 

Equally important were personal connections. Students frequently commented on how approachable, welcoming, and passionate the health care professionals were, underscoring the role that authentic employer engagement plays in building confidence and interest among young people. 

By centering hands-on experiences and meaningful interaction with professionals, the Health Careers Expo helped students see health care as both accessible and achievable. The event reinforced the importance of early exposure and experiential learning in strengthening the Region’s health care talent pipeline. In addition, the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Regional Health Care Collaborative’s support was instrumental in bringing this vision to life, serving as one piece of a broader effort to strengthen the health care talent pipeline in the Detroit Region.  

Subscribe to the Chamber’s TalentEd newsletter and stay tuned for upcoming events. Interested in participating as a school or an employer in 2027? Email Gillian Ryan, Health Programs Engagement Specialist at the Chamber, at gryan@detroitchamber.com.