DISCOVERY Children’s Museum hosted a grand opening ceremony in the Museum’s ECO CITY gallery today to unveil its new exhibit offering children and their families a chance to learn, play and explore the field of healthcare.
Inside the new space, children and their families are invited to learn while playing on a large replica classic Operation game, hands-on baby doll nursery, fun display that simulates X-ray scans so kids can learn about the appearance of the human skeletal system and more. The exhibit, sponsored by Intermountain Health, is designed to introduce our youngest generation to careers in healthcare.
“Children and families will be able to learn about healthcare in a comfortable and fun environment while taking on the role of a patient or healthcare provider,” said Dr. Paul Krakovitz, Intermountain Health Region President. “This exhibit creates numerous ways for children to develop and grow to understand the importance of healthcare while giving them a window to various careers in the healthcare field.”
The museum’s ECO CITY gallery offers children an opportunity to find out about various professions within several exhibits sponsored by partner companies and organizations.
“Part of DISCOVERY Children’s Museum’s mission is to provide a vibrant and engaging experience through exhibits and programs that encourage a love of lifelong learning,” said Melissa Kaiser, CEO of DISCOVERY Children’s Museum. “We are so excited to partner with Intermountain Health on our new exhibit in ECO CITY that will inspire our future healthcare heroes.”
Southern Nevada is not alone in experiencing significant healthcare worker shortages. According to a recent survey conducted by Elsevier Health, about 47% of healthcare workers across the U.S. plan to leave the industry by 2025.
“We already need more physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals in our state, and this need will just increase as our communities continue to grow,” said Intermountain Health Pediatric Neurosurgeon Dr. Taryn Bragg, the only board-certified, full-time pediatric neurosurgeon in Nevada. “We hope that this exhibit inspires children to explore pursuing careers in healthcare in the future.”
The exhibit opening ties in with National Health Literacy Month in October, a time for healthcare professionals and organizations to promote the importance of clear health communication leading to a more equitable world where all people can access high quality care and attain positive health outcomes.
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About Intermountain Health
With locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit healthcare system comprised of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with 3,800 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, and a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.
About DISCOVERY Children’s Museum
Celebrating more than 30 years as a nonprofit, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is the top interactive Museum in Southern Nevada, welcoming all children and families to explore three complete floors filled with heart-pumping, brain-boosting, curiosity-satisfying fun, adventure, and DISCOVERY. The nonprofit educational institution re-located to Symphony Park in March 2013 and serves as Las Vegas’ only children’s Museum. The three-story Museum encompassing 26,000 square feet is complete with nine exhibition galleries featuring immersive traveling exhibitions, daily programs, demonstrations and activities, and collaborative cultural programming for all occasions. DISCOVERY Children’s Museum offers children the opportunity to explore their curiosities while addressing the core educational areas of science and nature, art and culture, and early childhood development.
For more information about DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, visit www.discoverykidslv.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
