Holyoke Community College & Holyoke public schools 2010 spring afterschool CONNECTIONS health careers club
The HCC/HPS HEALTH CAREERS CLUB was launched this month with 8 nursing students from Dean Tech attending every Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30 at HCC, Room 134 Marieb. The Club is a partnership with the HCC Division of Health and the Holyoke Public Schools 21st Century Afterschool Connections Program. Membership is open to ANY HOLYOKE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT interested in exploring health and allied health careers. The Club will run to the end of May.
HEALTH CLUB LEADER
Kim Slepchuk is the Health Careers Club leader. She brings many years of experience as a health and science teacher in the Springfield Public Schools and was the Head Teacher of last summer’s Health Careers Summer Institute. She will be Head Teacher for HCSI 2010 and HCSA 2010. Kim is an adjunct professor in the HCC Division of Health and the HCOP Teacher Advocate at Springfield Technology Community College. She is also a fitness expert who teaches spinning in a local private health club. She has a passion for sharing her expertise in health care. As a new mom, she is enjoying the wonders of her own little girl and looks forward to inspiring a new generation of boys and girls to explore health and allied health careers.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THE HEALTH CAREERS CLUB?
Every Tuesday there are Guest Speakers from the HCC Division of Health and/or health professionals from the private sector. Students get to do lots of hands-on, health-related activities in class and learn about various health and allied health careers.
Thus far, they have worked with Holly Martin-Peele, Director of HCC’s Radiologic Technology Program and Gial Mignogna, Coordinator of HCC’s Medical Assistant Program. Some had the opportunity to listen to special guest, Sharon Grundel, Director of the State’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) program and Jasmine Santana, former Dean Tech and current HCC School of Nursing student, and now new mom of twin boys when both spoke at Dean Tech.
Future Tuesday Programs include Field Trips to UMASS Amherst School of Public Health, Springfield College Department of Anatomy to view a cadaver, Holyoke Health Center, and STCC’s Massage Therapy Program. Students will also work with HCC’s health manikins in a Medical Encounter and learn about what it takes to be a Physician Assistant. They will meet Patti Manti, Director of HCC’s Health, Fitness and Nutrition Program and Marge Bessette, gerontology expert and nursing professor. A local dentist will share information about careers in dentistry and much, much more is planned.
HOSA:
The students are also forming and will become the first members of a new Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Chapter–In-Training. Next fall, the HOSA Chapter will become "official." The members will elect officers, plan fund raisers, and become active in the local, regional and national activities, including a trip to Anaheim California next year for the National Conference.
For more information please contact:
Janice Carmichael
HCC Teacher Advocate
(413) 552-2026
March 29, 2010
