As the STEPS program evolves, it is essential to explore strategies that support long-term sustainability by attracting future learners into healthcare simulation. One promising approach is to develop a high school recruitment pipeline that introduces students to the field of healthcare simulation, the role of Simulation Operations Specialists (SOS), and academic pathways such as STEPS.
Pipeline programs involve a range of activities that raise awareness, generate interest, and foster engagement among future students. These initiatives are especially important given that high school learners rarely encounter simulation or SOS careers in existing healthcare outreach programs.
The research questions guiding this component of the work are: (1) How can a high school pipeline program be designed to increase awareness of SOS careers and interest in related academic pathways such as the STEPS Minor? and (2) How acceptable, feasible, and sustainable is the proposed pipeline program for students, caregivers, and educational leadership?
To accomplish this, I will undertake the following activities:
- Conduct a scoping review and shareholder engagement (focus groups and interviews) to identify existing pipeline program characteristics and understand the barriers and facilitators to pipeline development.
- Collaborate with shareholders to co-design a blueprint for a high school recruitment pipeline, using iterative feedback loops to refine the design.
- Pilot the pipeline program at a local high school using a pre/post evaluation framework to assess changes in awareness and interest, along with focus groups to examine feasibility and sustainability.
This work will result in a co-developed, piloted blueprint for a high school recruitment pipeline that addresses the awareness gap around simulation careers and strengthens student pathways into programs like STEPS. By building interest early, this project supports the future growth of a skilled SOS workforce and the long-term viability of simulation-focused academic programs.
