New program gives NSU students extra edge
While many high school students in science class might be taking intro to biology, one group is focusing on pig-feet suturing.
As part of a new fellowship for students at Nova Southeastern University School’s Upper School for high school-aged students, 12 students interested in careers in the medical field are receiving exclusive hands-on training and mentorship.
Last month, the Dr. Kiran C. Patel college of Osteopathic Medicine fellowship program launched, giving NSU University School Upper School students a chance to establish a research question and explore different health professions as part of the year-long program.
“The [fellowship] has been shaped by this premise of medicine as a healing science,” Upper School Associate Director Jaimie Crawford said. “Student applicants wrote essays on their own experience as recipients or benefactors of compassion.”
The 12 selected students went through what the school described as a “rigorous” selection process — including an application, essay and formal interview — before being selected.
Though it’s being led by the osteopathic college, thanks to the partnership of additional colleges, the high school students will be able to explore additional divisions incluing dental, optometry,
nursing, and pharmacy.
This is the program’s pilot year, selecting from a pool of students that excelled in advanced science classes.
“These students are 100 percent committed to the Fellowship Program,” Upper School Director Scott Fech said. “They must have an extreme level of maturity and commitment in order for them
and the program to be successful.”
The 12 fellows received training upon being accepted, and were certified in basic life support by their mentors, the osteopathic college’s clinical faculty and medical students. They also took part in a pig feet suturing lesson with members if the school’s surgery club and will soon learn how to measure blood pressure and take blood from a fake arm.
“The fellows will not only get clinical practice taking blood on a silicone arm, they will learn about the psychology behind the action,” Clinical Assistant Professor of Medical Education & Nutrition for the osteopathic college, Dianna Silvagni said. “They will learn how to relax the patient and how to approach it with compassion and empathy – the cornerstone of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.”
Beginning in spring, the fellows will participate in six rotations. The fellowship will close with the students vising the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Lauderdale, where they’ll prepare meals for the residents and hand out care packages.
“The fellows will not only get clinical practice taking blood on a silicone arm, they will learn about the psychology behind the action.” — Dianna Silvagni, clinical assistant professor of medical education & nutrition for the NSU osteopathic college