Exploring Careers in Health Occupations (ECHO) is a health careers exploration program that provides fun, interactive, multi-disciplinary experiences through various high school learning opportunities to increase students’ interest in pursuing careers in healthcare. All students are exposed to a broad array of health careers.

ECHO has a unique summer program in the Western Maryland region that provides hands-on activities in various healthcare settings, including public health.   As an AHEC West signature health careers pathways program, ECHO encourages students to explore and pursue a career in the health professions and to return to a rural or underserved community to practice, a community preferably located in the Western Maryland region. During the rest of the school year, we offer three lessons to high schools: public health, aging simulation, and dental careers lessons.

In-person experiences take students on day-long trips to colleges and universities including the University of Maryland School of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, the National Institutes of Health, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland State Police’s Trooper 5 helicopter, and other facilities where they engage with healthcare professionals and learn first-hand about the many rewards and opportunities health careers offer them. Students are also offered SAT and ACT test preparation opportunities from the Princeton Review, one of the premier preparation courses in the nation.

ECHO Week 2025 is sponsored by:

 

For more information on the upcoming ECHO 2025 summer program, watch the following video: