SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — High school students interested in a career in health care are invited to apply for the Summer 2026 High School Healthcare Bootcamps at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham. The bootcamps are designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in a career in health care to experience a realistic look into various health care roles and make connections in their field of interest.

“This job shadowing experience is a great opportunity for students interested in a choosing a career in health care to learn about the different roles at our hospitals and experience hands-on skills sessions with our health care professionals,” said Ericka Mulroy, Nursing Professional Development Specialist for Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS).

Through the bootcamp program, students will forge connections and gain valuable insight into what it means to pursue a career in health care. In 2023, Destiny Ross attended the HSHS High School Healthcare Bootcamp at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon and is now pursuing a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) through HSHS St. Elizabeth’s CNA Program. Ross shares, “During the bootcamp, I learned the importance of compassion, attention to detail, and patient-centered care. It showed me that being a CNA is not just about skills, but about truly caring for others. I chose this path to make a difference, and I’m excited to begin my journey with HSHS.”

Interested students will be able to talk directly to HSHS employment specialists about opportunities available to them in the field, opening a door in the health care industry before they graduate high school.

Applications for the HSHS Healthcare Bootcamps are due May 2. Each bootcamp location and date requires individual application. Students selected will be notified by May 14.

HSHS St. John’s Hospital Healthcare Bootcamps – Springfield

The bootcamps are free of charge to students thanks to the HSHS St. John’s Foundation.

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Healthcare Bootcamp – Decatur

Tuesday, July 14: https://forms.office.com/r/VMNiNT82TJ

The bootcamp is free of charge to students thanks to the HSHS St. Mary’s Foundation.

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Healthcare Bootcamp – Effingham

June 18: https://forms.office.com/r/wz4GiKF7ET

The bootcamp is free of charge to students thanks to the HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation.

For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.

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About HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, celebrating 150 years of serving the Effingham community, is part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a nonprofit Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs nearly 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.