Shore Medical Center program gives high schoolers hands-on experience with professionals in the f
SOMERS POINT — A cardiac arrest simulation, touring an ambulance, reading X-rays and learning how to take a manual blood pressure are just a few of the hands-on experiences of the 20 students selected for Shore Medical Center’s Next Gen Mini Med School, a five-day summer program designed to introduce high school students to the many career opportunities available in health care.
Throughout the week, students worked alongside physicians, nurses, emergency responders, patient advocates and other health care professionals, gaining a firsthand look at the teamwork, technology and compassion that define patient care.
Interest in the program was strong. Fifty students applied, each submitting a personal statement and a reflective essay. Only 20 students were accepted, and each committed to participating in the full five-day program.
According to Lisa DiTroia, director of volunteers at Shore Medical Center, the program is designed to help students explore health care careers through meaningful hands-on learning and conversations with professionals.
“As a community hospital, we’re proud to offer opportunities like Next Gen Mini Med School to students in our community,” DiTroia said. “We want to inspire tomorrow’s health care professionals by allowing them to see what it’s really like to work in a hospital. Whether they become physicians, nurses, therapists, technologists or pursue another health care career, we hope they leave with a better understanding of what caring for patients is all about.”
In the Emergency Department, students met paramedics, EMTs and firefighters, toured an ambulance, explored the equipment used during emergency responses and gained a better understanding of how first responders and emergency clinicians work together before a patient even arrives at the hospital.
Students also explored careers in diagnostic imaging during a session led by Kerry Raymond, director of the Shore Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology. Raymond introduced students to the role radiologic technologists play in patient care, explained how X-rays help physicians diagnose injuries and illnesses, and highlighted the many career opportunities available within the profession.
Led by Shore Medical Center’s nursing educators and Chief Nursing Officer Jill Schultz, students rotated through simulation stations designed to mirror real hospital situations.
They responded to a mannequin experiencing cardiac arrest, learned how clinicians check for a pulse, practiced chest compressions, observed a patient’s heart rhythm on a bedside monitor and learned how to take a manual blood pressure reading.
The exercises allowed students to experience the fast-paced environment of patient care in a safe, educational setting while developing a greater appreciation for the critical role nurses play throughout the hospital.
“The simulation labs give students the chance to experience health care in a realistic but safe environment,” DiTroia said. “It’s exciting to watch them gain confidence as they try new skills.”
Students also had the opportunity to hear from third-year medical students from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine who are completing their clinical rotations at Shore Medical Center.
During an informal question-and-answer session, the medical students shared honest insights into the realities of medical school, discussed what admissions committees look for in applicants, and encouraged participants to volunteer and seek meaningful experiences that demonstrate a commitment to serving others.
For many of the high school students, it was a chance to ask candid questions of people who had recently navigated the same path they hope to follow.
The week concluded with a reminder that exceptional health care depends on more than clinical knowledge. During a patient experience session led by Kathleen Biancorosso, administrative director of Patient Experience, along with Patient Advocates Kira Evans and Daniel Amaya Gomez, students worked through real-world scenarios involving patient interactions.
By acting out situations and discussing possible solutions, they explored the importance of communication, empathy and problem-solving while learning how patient feedback, including HCAHPS surveys, helps hospitals continually improve the care they provide.
DiTroia hopes the experience leaves a lasting impression.
“Health care is built on teamwork,” she said. “If even a few of these students leave inspired to pursue a career caring for others, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we hoped to do.”
– STORY and PHOTOS courtesy of SHORE MEDICAL CENTER