Moraine Valley Community College partnered with Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital to present a free Health Careers Boot Camp to introduce high school students to a variety of medical careers in a weeklong camp that ran the second and last weeks of June.
Between the two camp sessions, 47 students from Stagg, Argo, Sandburg, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Eisenhower, Shepard, Lincoln-Way, Reavis and Mother McAuley high schools heard presentations by Moraine Valley faculty, who discussed health care careers, including emergency medical services, addictions studies, massage therapy, nursing, phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, radiology, health information technology and sleep technology. Students also participated in engaging, educational hands-on activities.
“We’re really immersing high school students in what kinds of careers are out there and teaching them real-life skills. Some of these fields are completely new to them. For example, none of these students were aware of sleep technology. We’re making them aware of what we do and how our pathways can help them succeed,” said Karen Kowalski, coordinator of the college’s Medical Assistant Program.
Hands-on activities gave students an opportunity to learn skills such as how to utilize infection control procedures, properly use personal protective equipment and how to stop bleeding, which included identifying significant bleeding and three ways to stop it, applying pressure, packing a wound, learning how to make and use a military tourniquet as well as how to protect oneself while providing care. Participants even earned a Stop the Bleed certificate for this work.
One senior from Andrew High School, Dalia Eassa, attended last year’s camp and enjoyed it so much that she returned this year as a volunteer. “Last year was amazing. I think I’ll get my EMT [emergency medical technician] license or [study] massage therapy or sleep technology. I don’t know. I did not think I’d be interested in EMT, but every time I was in that classroom last year, my brain said I have to do it.”
This is the second year Moraine Valley hosted the boot camp and anticipates continuing this opportunity for local high school students in the future.
For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley communications specialist and sports information coordinator, at (708) 974-5742 or Vizzam@morainevalley.edu.
