Whether you want to be a physical therapist, a nurse, the number one cardiac surgeon in the country, or have no clue but want to be in the medical field, the Health Science pathway is for you.
From entering the pathway analyzing medical terms to leaving the pathway with multiple degrees and certifications, students looking to go into the medical field have a huge chance of success at GRC.
Located in the ATC, three outstanding educators are constantly working to provide students with opportunities that will set them up for a bright future.
Rebecca Prater, Heather Abner, and Lauren Harney exemplify a power trio that work endlessly for the benefit of others. With their instruction, students aren’t just sitting at a desk memorizing information.
These teachers are able to provide real, hands-on experiences to prepare students for their future careers.
“I focus on the principle of demonstrating love with quality, compassionate care to all patient populations in my class,” says Mrs. Prater. “The most rewarding part is watching young 14-year-old high school students become amazing, successful professional colleagues during their senior year.”
Throughout students’ four- year span in high school, participants in the pathway begin their coursework with the principles of health science, then move into medical terminology, emergency procedures, and anatomy and physiology.
Seniors then have the option to take nurse aide, phlebotomy, or sports medicine.
Though all instructors teach different aspects of the medical field, they all share a common goal, which is to convey the high standards they hold for their students and the preparedness they make sure students have for a successful career in healthcare.
“The Health Science/Allied Health programs provide students with a strong foundation in the healthcare field, prepares them for college or immediate employment, and gives them a competitive edge in the healthcare industry,” says Mrs. Abner.
It takes a village to achieve these levels of success, and for the Winchester community, it is safe to say we are set with helpful hands in aiding with student accomplishments and goals.
Mrs. Harney knows the value of the community in making this program a success.
“We are so blessed to have amazing community partners that go above and beyond to host our students and give them opportunities outside of the classroom,” she says. “We are so thankful.”
Many students within the pathway have had positive experiences while participating in the program.
Senior Ethan Tuttle does everything from moving a mannequin out of a bed and into a wheelchair to drawing blood on a fake arm. He’s even had the opportunity to practice drawing blood on people.
“My favorite part about this program is all the hands-on experiences we get,” he says. “Very few schools give students a lot of experiences like this, and I feel very prepared for whatever the next step may be in my healthcare career journey.”
Being a senior comes with a lot of freedom and privileges, but for seniors in this pathway, they are already stepping out of GRC and straight into a hospital for internships and clinical practices.
“We switch rotations at the hospital every four weeks,” says senior Josie Lane. “Being able to witness first hand what healthcare workers do, along with the variations of what different workers do in a day, provided insight on what I want to do in the future.”
The great part about this pathway is the multitude of jobs that can come from it.
While you don’t have to know exactly what you want to be, you already have a solid background that you can build on in the future.
The medical profession is one of many that are so important to our world, and GRC is lucky to have such an amazing program available to their students.
