Kiara Fitzpatrick, a sophomore at Lake Washington High School, while interested in science had never thought much about cardiology. But seeing a pig heart and getting to play around with medical devices used in some of the highest-tech procedures in medicine now as her more interested in cardiology or neurology.

Overlake Medical Center recently held a “Careers in Medicine” event. More than 80 students from high schools all over the Eastside, some with their parents along, heard from physicians in fields ranging from urogynocology to neurosurgery, psychiatry and cardiology. They got a behind the scenes look at hospital departments not usually generally to the public. Most students said they have been previously interested in science or STEM fields but not necessarily medicine, and many told event organizers that they are much more likely now to consider a career in healthcare.