LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — High school and adult education students stepped out of the classroom and into the real world to gain hands-on experience in the healthcare field on Friday.
The Lima Memorial Explorer Program kicked off, giving students exposure to a variety of careers in medicine. Inside the hospital, students rotated through three stations. At the rehabilitation station, participants tested exercises and equipment used to help patients regain strength. In the laboratory, professionals demonstrated how blood, urine, and other specimens are tested. Over in radiology, students learned about imaging technologies such as CT and MRI scans.
No matter what the station, the goal was to help students explore different career pathways in healthcare.
"They can do different areas within healthcare that they may not have been aware of if they have not done this program, so it's great to get their eyes and their hands, very hands-on, into everything to kind of get that feel to see what would better interest them to help them grow in their careers and in their life," says Amanda Corcoran, Director of Inpatient Rehab Unit, LMHS.
And even if students haven’t decided on a specific career yet, the experience gave them valuable insight into the many opportunities available in the field.
"Especially being at, in like, a hospital setting, it's like going to show us what equipment and what patients and like just real-world situations, I guess, just being here instead of at school in a lab," says Ashlyn Jolliff, Health Sciences Student at Apollo Career Center.
"Making connections with the nurses here, and like, down the road, if you need help, they are always there and getting to know them," says London Pannell, Health Sciences Student at Apollo Career Center.
To sign up for future Explorer programs, visit Lima Memorial Healthcare Career Explorer Program.
