Cohen Brubacher joined his mom, Heather Brubacher - a Supervisor of the Central Scheduling Office - at Niagara Health on Nov. 5 for Take Our Kids to Work Day.
“I really enjoyed going into the lab and seeing all the tests they perform,” says14-year-old Cohen Brubacher, who took part in Take Our Kids to Work Day at Niagara Health (NH) on Nov. 5.
As someone who hopes to become a lawyer someday, Cohen was surprised to learn there are even lawyers who work in healthcare. But that’s not all he learned.
Cohen joined his mom Heather Brubacher, Supervisor of the Central Scheduling Office, for a behind-the-scenes look at hospital life. Like many students, he was amazed to discover that healthcare is powered by far more than doctors and nurses — it’s a world of science, technology, logistics and teamwork.
“It was fun watching him learn about what I do, meet my coworkers and discover jobs he didn’t know existed,” says Heather. “It’s a special experience and such a great opportunity for the kids.”
The annual Take Our Kids to Work Day, held across Canada on the first Wednesday of November, gives Grade Nine students a glimpse into workplaces while encouraging career exploration. This year, NH welcomed a record 81 participants — all children and stepchildren of staff and physicians — for a morning of hands-on learning, tours and interactive experiences.
“There are so many unique roles and opportunities that show what healthcare really looks like in our community, which is so important,” says Heather.
Students visited several departments, each offering a unique perspective on the many roles that support patient care and hospital operations:
- Professional Practice – Participated in a mock Code Blue scenario, performing CPR as part of the response team.
- Dietary Services – Learned how nutritious meals are planned and prepared for patients.
- Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) – Observed how surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized and prepared to ensure safety.
- Laboratory Services – Explored the science behind specimens, cultures and diagnostics — a clear student favourite.
- Operating Room – Toured an OR suite and saw what it takes to prepare for surgery.
- Risk Management – Joined a hospital-themed “Amazing Race” to understand how safety and quality are maintained.
- Biomedical Engineering – Tried out specialized medical equipment and learned how technology supports care.
“It was wonderful to welcome our future workforce into the hospital,” says Amanda Basilone, Manager of Talent Acquisition. “With a record number of students this year, the event offered an exciting look into the important work their parents and caregivers do every day. It’s one of our favourite events — we love seeing curiousity and career exploration come to life.”
From labs to operating rooms, the event showcased the incredible diversity of professions that work together to deliver safe, high-quality patient care. For students like Cohen, it was a chance to see how their interests — whatever they may be — can fit into the healthcare world.
“Honestly, the best part of the day for me was experiencing and watching everyone do their jobs. Seeing all the cool aspects of the different parts of the hospital. It was really interesting,” says Cohen.
