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by Connor Watkins
Public Relations
While deciding on a career can be overwhelming, statewide college
students participating in the South Carolina Area Health Education
Consortium (AHEC) Nursing, Dental and Medicine Career Academy said this
experience has reaffirmed their choice of occupation.
“It’s a good thing to hear first-hand what to expect,” said Stella
Njenga, a senior biology major at Allen University. “Meeting faculty,
going to class and meeting fellow students who are practicing as well
makes me feel like if they can do it, I can do it too.”
 Academy
students test their hand-eye coordination and depth perception with the
fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) training station, which is
designed for use in the residency training program.
In conjunction with the College of Nursing, College of Dental Medicine
and Project EXPORT (Excellence in Partnerships for community Outreach,
Research on health disparities, and Training), the academy gives
students from different colleges in South Carolina, who are interested
in dentistry, nursing and medicine, the opportunity to learn about each
profession. Six years since its establishment, this year's program
featured the highest number of academy fellows, 31.
For one week, participants attended sessions as an interprofessional
group and in their respective disciplines . They also heard
from MUSC deans and faculty on building resumes, choosing academic
courses, job interviews and how to pursue a health care degree. On the
final day, the group gave a poster presentation, which was
evaluated by MUSC faculty and staff.
A new experience offered to the students by the program was a visit to
the MUSC Healthcare Simulation Center in the College of Nursing. Opened
in June 2008, the simulation center focuses on preparing students and
health care professionals for patient care and specialty procedures by
having them learn with patient simulators the various abilities they
exhibit ranging from carrying a pulse to delivering a baby. Academy
students observed how the simulators operate and learned about
the different medical procedures and practices and how they are
assessed.
As the students move forward in their academic careers, the program
will follow them to accumulate success stories and monitor their
academic progress. Previous student accomplishments include becoming a
dental assistant, pursuing a career in podiatry and landing a job at
MUSC.
Gwendolyn B. Brown, DMD, director of diversity, College of Dental
Medicine, wants these students to leave the program feeling confident
and self-assured about their careers. “They need to be sure this is
really what they want to do and that, ultimately, is to take care of
mankind and you have to have a passion and desire to do that.”
Friday, June 26, 2009
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