By Dawn Brazell
Public Relations
Little did Fort Dorchester High School senior Michael Sweet realize that he would be asked to hyperventilate on a school visit to MUSC. Obeying the odd request, Sweet listens for the next instructions from Robert Adams, M.D., who is interpreting the results of the transcranial doppler ultrasound that's being done.

He lets Sweet know he's in good shape with nice young elastic blood vessels. Given that Adams holds a SmartState Endowed Chair in Stroke and directs the South Carolina REACH (Remote Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke) Network, this is good news indeed.

Sweet was one of 27 students from Fort Dorchester High School who visited MUSC's Bioengineering Building and Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions on Nov. 2 to learn more about stroke as part of their term project for the biotechnology class. This event followed up on their teacher Ben Bertolet's summer experience at MUSC as part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program for high school science teachers. Bertolet was hosted for his summer visit by the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program.
Bertolet said the day was amazing.

Fort Dorchester High School student Michael Sweet, left, volunteers to help demonstrate a transcranial doppler ultrasound. Judy Luden performs the procedure as Dr. Robert Adams, right, explains the procedure. Also pictured is Dr. Lidia Yamada.

Many of the students have family members who have suffered or died from a stroke. "Any time you can establish connections between what is learned in the classroom and the outside world, students derive significant meaning and understanding. The field trip provided my students with a relevant learning experience and shed insight into how engineers help to better mankind through the use of technology."

Students learned about the biomedical basis and risk factors for stroke and the latest in treatment and rehabilitation for victims. 

"Knowledge is power. Experiences like these also provide students with a spark for a future career in engineering. They might have a 'I could do this' or 'I want to do this' epiphany."

Bertolet praised The Education Foundation, an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, which received funding from Boeing to write a curriculum for a "STEM in the Workplace" class. The class exposed around 100 math and science teachers to local industries and businesses that offer STEM jobs. It emphasized project-based learning and the benefits that educational style has for students. Bertolet's particular project was on stroke awareness.

"Programs like 'Project Lead The Way' are trying to carve the path for the innovation generation. We are in a STEM crisis in this country, and the need for bright young minds in these fields is higher than ever before."
MUSC medical leaders agree.

ort Dorchester High School students broke into three groups to tour the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions.

The day began with Adams and Lidia Yamada, M.D., describing medical aspects of stroke and its prevention. Adams and Judy Luden, the Neuroscience research program coordinator, then demonstrated some of the latest technologies for stroke diagnosis. After an overview of stroke rehabilitation research by Steven Kautz, Ph.D., director of research for the College of Health Professions, the students had interactive visits at three laboratories in MUSC's Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions including Locomotor Energetics and Assessment (Jesse Dean, Ph.D., and Cameron Nott, Ph.D.), Locomotor Rehabilitation (Mark Bowden, Ph.D.), and Upper Extremity Function (Michelle Woodbury, Ph.D.).

Richard Swaja, Ph.D., director of the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program and coordinator for this event, said the visit was successful by all measures.

"The students learned about stroke from clinicians at MUSC's nationally-recognized Stroke Center and about state-of-the-art rehabilitation research being conducted in the College of Health Professions. The MUSC staff presentations and demonstrations were absolutely great and maintained the students' attention and enthusiasm throughout the day. The MUSC clinicians and scientists also enjoyed interacting with the students."

Having a facility like the bioengineering building for such functions helped immensely with regard to audio-visual and interactive meeting capabilities," he said.

"It is fitting that much of the event was conducted in the new facility since stroke research is such a multi-disciplinary endeavor just like bioengineering."

Swaja said this type of outreach is valuable in that it reflects the commitment and involvement of MUSC in community development and education at all levels.

"It provides students at a critical stage in their development – high school juniors and seniors who are thinking about college and careers – with real world experience and exposure to opportunities in biomedicine. Activities where high school students can meet and interact with nationally-recognized scientists and graduate students and experience vibrant and relevant research and clinical environments can have dramatic impacts on career choices and directions."