What better way to launch a career in medicine than by taking part in medical rounds in a hospital?
That’s exactly the opportunity afforded area high school seniors through the Capital Region BOCES New Visions: Health Careers program.
Students enrolled in the program take part in nearly 30 rotations during their senior year of high school, exposing them to everything from childbirth to maintenance operations in the hospitals. The program is offered at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany and Ellis Hospital in Schenectady [soon to be relocated to Bellevue Women’s Health Center in Niskayuna].
“I chose this program because of the rotations around the hospitals. I want to be an RN [registered nurse] and I figured doing the rotations in all the different areas would help me prepare for that career,” said Claire Modan, who attends the program from Niskayuna High School.
Classmate Amanda Laferriere said the clinical rotations were a major draw for her as well.
“They allow you to see a lot of different areas of healthcare and help you gain experience,” said the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior.
Rotations include radiation oncology, the operating room, pharmacy, psychiatric units, rehabilitation, the business office and even maintenance, which poses special challenges in a sterile environment. During one such rotation last school year, students observed a cesarean-section [C-section].
“It was very interesting to see them open her up and out came the baby. It was very quick,” said Tia Jack, a class of 2024 graduate from Scotia-Glenville High School who is preparing in college for a career as an OB-GYN physician.
“It happened so fast. [the baby] just popped out,” added Shelby Cataldo, an aspiring emergency room nurse who graduated from the program and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School last school year.
The New Visions: Health Careers program is a one-year program that turns area hospitals into classrooms for highly motivated, academically successful high school seniors. In the program, students learn through traditional methods (lecture, reading, research, writing and focused study), group discussions, internships, and rotations.
Visit the New Visions: Health Careers – Capital Region BOCES page for information on the program.