Health sciences program concludes first semester with LCVI students

The first semester of Ross Memorial Hospital’s Health Sciences Program, in partnership with Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute, concluded last week.

Eighteen LCVI students took part in the inaugural Health Sciences Program at the hospital as part of the Trillium Lakelands District School Board’s Specialist High Skills Major Program.

The goal of the program is to introduce interested students to the many jobs within a hospital and show them that there is more opportunity than just being doctors and nurses. It takes a multidisciplinary team of specialists including therapists, skilled trade workers, pharmacists, cooks, housekeepers, administrators, support workers, information technologists, accountants and, of course, doctors and nurses.

Fourteen Ross Memorial employees from departments throughout the hospital provided students with a case study. They presented a scenario the students might encounter within the hospital, including a list of questions about the case. In groups, the students would research the profession, answer the questions within the case study, and present it back to the Ross Memorial staff member for review and feedback.

The resulting presentations were informed, detailed, and creative. According to a press release, Ross Memorial employees and the students went above and beyond to make their presentations entertaining, including mock episodes of Family Feud, Jeopardy, and a dramatic performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ with a healthcare twist.

Students also went on an educational trip to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, where they received a tour and case study from the Vice Dean of Education. 

Complimentary to the Health Sciences Program, Ross Memorial provided a Co-operative Education placement to four LCVI students who were able to rotate through and observe departments throughout the hospital, in addition to learning basic training in skills like feeding patients and wheelchair safety.

Ross Memorial and LCVI are continuing to work together with the intention of launching another semester of the Health Sciences Program in fall 2023.

“I loved every second of it. It was different than any course I’ve ever taken – it was completely unique. I came in every day expecting something different and I couldn’t ask for more. It opened my mind up to new experiences. Out of everything I’ve done in high school, I loved this so much,” said Carter Rushlow a Grade 12 student at LCVI.

Lauren Bugden, a Grade 12 student at LCVI and a nursing applicant to University of New Brunswick, said the course is worth it. “It opens your eyes to so many different opportunities that you can take. As we learned, there’s not just medical stuff in the hospital – there’s construction workers, plumbers, and people who control the humidity. So even if you’re not necessarily interested in healthcare, but you still like the idea of working in a hospital and helping people, there’s opportunities through the trades you can take.