As the month of October is drawing to an end and our Pink Ties will soon be put away until next year, we thought it was the perfect time to give an update on what’s been happening in our Health Careers Path Program. They’ve been busy to say the least! We’re very proud of this program because it allows our students to have educational experiences inside and outside of the classroom that relate to the field of health careers.
The 11th grade students in the Health Care Ethics class debated on whether adolescents should make their own medical decisions. This is a hot topic that our students (being adolescents themselves) had no lack of opinion and were more than passionate to share their views!
For the past several years, SMA has hosted and participated in the American Red Cross Blood Drive. Twice a year, fall and spring members of the SMA Health & Wellness club learn by assisting the clinical staff of the Red Cross in the school’s Gym with processing blood donors. Once the blood donation process is completed, students ensure the donors are nourished and hydrated before leaving the Gym area. Students who are 16 years and older are also able to donate blood and through this experience have learned how their contribution positively affects the lives of many. Family and community members, faculty, staff and our eligible students contributed a total of 40 units of blood at the September drive. These donations will medically assist up to 120 individuals! SMA ‘s next blood drive will be held Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month so our Belles traded in their Gold, Red, Blue and Green Ties for Pink Ties! The students made Pink Ties after school, under the direction and assistance of Dr. Klipfel, Director of the Health Careers Program. The Hannon Dining Room resembled a home-making class as several students cut pink colored fabric and stitched the ties on sewing machines. The young seamstresses made 70 ties, which were then purchased by students to be worn throughout the month. Alumnae have also purchased several ties to wear in support of breast cancer awareness and their alma mater! In addition to Pink Ties sold, the students raised monies with a “pink bake sale” and by selling other breast cancer awareness items. All monies raised from this project ($600) were donated to the Providence Little Company of Mary Comprehensive Breast Health Center.
Through class study and discussion, the 9th grade Health Careers Program students learned about infection control, proper health care worker hand washing and sterile fields. Students’ understanding and knowledge of the subject was demonstrated by correctly donning sterile surgical gloves without contamination occurring. As students visit the clinical settings, they will be better prepared to protect patients and themselves!
The Introduction to Health Careers class, taken the first year of the Health Careers Program, incorporates the study of several body systems. The senses, vision in particular, is one system the students always find interesting to learn about. In a class lab, the students were educated on the many types of eye exams (acuity, extra ocular movements, pupil response, color blindness, and field of vision), and with a lab partner, performed the eye/vision examinations. This activity allows the students to better understand how the eye functions and why certain eye tests are performed on them by their own Ophthalmologist.
The 11th and 12th grade Health Career Program students had an enlightening and inspiring workshop with the founder of iDREAM for Racial Health Equity, Ms. Wenonah Valentine, (B.A. Black Studies and Economics At UCSB, M.B.A. Azusa Pacific University, SMA Blue Tie 1972) and Ms. Kimberly Thomson (UCLA B.S. Sociology, SMA Green Tie 1985). The students participated in leadership and racial equality in health care sessions.
For the past several years, the Health Careers Program students have been invited to attend and participate in the White Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The White Mass recognizes the dedicated work of Catholic Health Care Professionals from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Mission Doctors Association. The White Mass is a special celebration to acknowledge and thank the unique contributions made by all Catholic Health Care Professionals, and takes its name from the white coat most commonly worn by those in the medical field.
The students have assisted with the event by greeting and distributing the Mass programs to the attendees. After the Mass, the students are able to network with the health care professionals at a reception held at the Cathedral. Our students and Dr. Nan Klipfel, Director of the Health Careers Program, attended this year’s event on Sunday evening, October 8, 2017.
The Blue Ties monthly clinical visit to Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center provided a look into the numerous clinical areas at the hospital. Students shadowed the clinicians in the operating rooms, surgical units, dietary department, physical and occupational therapy departments, women’s health center, laboratory, cardiac cath lab and bio-engineering. Learning one on one from the dedicated staff at the hospital allows the students to apply what they study in the classroom to real health care world experiences. LCOM Medical Center is a wonderful and generous partner of SMA!
Our 12th grade Gold Ties are also very excited to start their “Healthy Ties” workshops at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles next week. We look forward to seeing what our Health Careers Path students do the rest of the school year. There’s definitely some promising health care professionals in this group!
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