Young Minds Explore Healthcare: Mercer Health Invites Kindergarteners and Medical Explorers to Learn and Grow

Over 800 kindergarteners from Mercer County elementary schools, as well as students from Versailles Elementary School in Darke County and several homeschool cohorts in the area, attended Mercer Health’s Play Hospital this year. For nearly 30 years, Mercer Health has invited local kindergarten students to attend Play Hospital, an interactive program for young students to learn about healthcare and tour the hospital among other fun stops to learn about handwashing, healthy choices, surgery, and more.

This year, some students had the chance to meet Ripsi, the therapy dog who works with Mercer Health Medical Group Mental Wellness patients. “We loved having our local students here to visit with us,” said Mindy Kremer, Vice President of Development, Marketing, and Communications. “Our goal is to make the hospital seem like a less scary place if they have to come visit us, and for the kids to have fun and learn something new about the healthcare field.”

Earlier this spring, Mercer Health also hosted a Medical Explorers program. This program allows freshman and sophomores from area schools to visit Mercer Health for an opportunity to explore volunteer positions and future career paths. They also learn more about their local healthcare system and its impact on the local community.