University of New England

High school students get hands-on exposure to healthcare careers at UNE Clinical Simulation Lab

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Eighteen Kennebunk High School (KHS) students recently had a unique opportunity to learn about programs offered through the University of New England’s (UNE) College of Health Professions (CHP). 

Funded through a grant by the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks (EFK), the Career Options program brings community leaders together with students to discuss careers and opportunities in their chosen fields.

Two separate classes of KHS students traveled to UNE’s Westbrook College Campus, where they met with Associate Professor Cynthia Morris, MS, RN, coordinator of UNE’s Clinical Simulation Program.  Morris discussed the variety of health professions available and in great demand in the state, as well as the salaries these careers offer. 

Operations Manager/Simulation SpecialistTodd Dadaleares, center, with (L-R) KHS students Cooper Gagnon, Kendra Paige, Liane Weiner and Michelle Penna

Morris explains: “We’d like more young people in the state to know they can stay in Maine, have an exciting career here, and be compensated well.”  Some of the CHP programs UNE offers include nursing, nurse anesthesia, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental hygiene, social work and health services management.

Patient Simulators
The KHS students had an opportunity to experience UNE’s clinical patient simulators – full-sized computer-driven mannequins designed to create hands-on experiences that are “true- to-life.” 

The simulators are used by clinicians and health profession students to safely practice and master skills in settings that mimic real-life patient environments.  The mannequins have pulses that can be felt and airways that allow for the practice of advanced life support skills; they respond physiologically to the administration of drugs and can be programmed to manifest vital signs consistent with a variety of conditions.
 
“One of the students said, ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.’  Once we take kids into the lab to try it out, we often get that kind of response. They are able to see the health sciences as an interactive, interesting and fulfilling career opportunity,” says Morris.

In addition, Todd Dadaleares, EMT B, operations manager/simulation specialist, discussed how an interest in technology could lead to a career such as his.  Dadaleares, UNE’s expert in the technical aspects of human patient simulation, was a media studies/multimedia major and has extensive experience in high-fidelity audio/video production, digital sequence creation software, and multimedia production.

Preparing Students
KHS teacher Amy Roy adds, “As educators we need to prepare kids for college, careers and citizenship. Basic core requirements are always increasing and it can be difficult to fit in career preparation.  Taking time to discuss what happens after KHS is so important.  Going to UNE – seeing a college, looking at expectations, types of learning, etc. –  is crucial to keeping kids engaged and showing purpose to their courses.”

The Career Options program is one of 25 programs funded by EFK in the last two years to enrich the curriculum in all five Kennebunk schools. EFK’s $120,000 investment in programs has engaged students in science, social studies, global videoconferencing, economics, civics and the arts. For more info, visit www.educationfoundationofthekennebunks.org.

(Press release posted May 29, 2008)