Hundreds of students from public and private schools across the county learned about the different careers in healthcare on Wednesday at a specialized career fair held on the campus of Wallace Community College Selma.

Felton Family Medicine, Ltc. was the main sponsor and organizer of the first Careers in Healthcare Day.

Dr. Lonnie Felton estimated that nearly 400 students attended the event at the WCCS gym to talk with representatives from 30 medical professions and businesses about the availability of careers in healthcare.

“We had a bigger turn-out than I thought we would,” Felton said. “Lots of schools came out.”

Felton said that almost every aspect of healthcare was represented at the career fair. Students spent the morning visiting the rows of booths lining the gym and collecting bags full of information, brochures and free gifts.

“This event was primarily for those students interested in healthcare,” Felton said. “Our goal was to explain to the students that if they wanted to be a doctor, this is what they needed to do.”

Felton said he and Vaughan Regional Medical Center CEO Steve Mahan also spoke to the students about becoming a part of the medical field and hosted a question and answer session.

“We had a really good forum,” Felton said. “I was really impressed that so many students had a interest.”

Felton said he decided to host the Careers in Healthcare Day as a way to give back to his hometown.

“I grew up here, I did my residency here, and this is my home,” Felton, whose family practice is located inside Vaughan. “I wanted to provide these students with what I didn’t have.”

Felton said he has plans to host another Careers in Healthcare Day next year and possibly offer some scholarships.

“I want to be able to offer scholarships to students based on essays about why they want have a career in healthcare,” Felton said. “I’m looking for ways to encourage students to accept the challenge and take up the fight to improve healthcare. We want to mold these students to become the future of healthcare.”