Dr. Bob Sullivan (top) of Southtown Veterinary Services explains to the differences to participants of NTIEC’s annual Healthcare Career Experience Summer Program the similarities and differences of treating animals and humans. Tunkhannock High School student Hannah Shreve (above) listens to a patient’s heartbeat. THS student Anaistan Jerome (below, right) tries her skills at suturing.
Edited from Submitted Materials
As part of a series of career summer experience programs this summer, the Northern Tier Industry & Education Consortium (NTIEC) hosted its annual Healthcare Career Experience summer program from at the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center. Eleven high school students from Tunkhannock Area, Wyalusing, Lackawanna Trail, and Mountain View with an interest in pursuing a career in a healthcare field, were provided hands-on activities over the course of a week to better their knowledge on their future careers.
To kick off the week, RN Darlene Drake started the students off with the basics of working in healthcare; handwashing techniques, infection control, taking vitals, and the ins-and-outs of HIPPA laws. Students were also visited by the Geisinger Community Medical CenterTrauma Services team, from whom they learned firsthand about working as an EMT, paramedic, registered nurse, and physician assistant.
Each student was trained and certified in “First on the Scene” after learning the importance of activating 911, giving CPR, use of an AED, and what to do in the instances of opioid overdoses, anaphylaxis, bleeding, chest wound trauma, and how to safely transport patients.
On Wednesday, students took a field trip to the Lackawanna College School of Health Sciences in Scranton, where they were able to see presentations from and have one-on-one conversations with nurses, PT/PTA, OT/OTA, clinical medical assistants, surgical technicians, and sonographers.
The students took a tour of Endless Mountains Health Systems in Montrose and had an in-depth discussion with hospital staff regarding the future of healthcare. Next on the agenda was a visit to Southtown Veterinary Services in Montrose, where students were able to see the fuzzier side of healthcare with Dr. Bob Sullivan. They learned about careers in veterinary medicine and the many differences and similarities in treating animals and humans. They had the opportunity to meet several furry patients as Dr. Bob examined them, reviewed x-rays, analyzed data, and made diagnoses.
The final day of the Healthcare Career Experience summer program was spent at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton with representatives from PA AHEC (Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center) and four amazing future doctors through the Community Engagement and Diversity and Pipeline Programs. Valerie Williams and Chelsea Wolff of PA AHEC shared with the students the many types of programs available to them to aid on their journeys of becoming healthcare professionals. Next, the four medical students shared their experiences through high school, undergraduate and graduate school and the pathways they took when applying to medical schools. Our 11 participants gained some wisdom from the medical students, learned some tips and tricks to college, career choices, different fields of study, and discussed life as a medical student.
NTIEC administrators expressed their gratitude for all of those who gave the 11 driven and passionate future healthcare providers the information and skills they need to kick start successful careers in healthcare. It is NTIEC’s goal to help foster and create a motivated, skilled, and informed workforce to help our community thrive for years to come, one student at a time.
Readers who would like more information about NTIEC and our programs can contact Deb Tierney at 570-278-5038 or via email at dtierney@ntiec.com or visit our website at www.ntiec.com.