KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Good Samaritan Hospital partnered with Knox County High Schools to establish Health Care Academy; the program took an experience trip to the hospital Friday.
It’s a program with a goal to draw more interest into health care careers. It’s also an introduction to the careers for students from North Knox, South Knox, Vincennes Lincoln and Rivet High Schools.
Health Care Academy Coordinator, Ryan Holdreith, said the exposure the students receive to the field helps them prepare for their future. “College is expensive, health care’s competitive and it really does a great job, or we hope it introduces them and exposes them to the fields, so they can make the right choice at the right time and make a good financial investment for their future.”
Mark Lehmann, a junior at North Knox High School said the class has been very informative. “I’ve learned a lot from this class. We do presentations quite often on what careers we want to do and how we want to get into the profession,” he said.
During Friday’s field trip, students heard from the Knox County Coroner and toured the morgue. They also heard about a career as a flight nurse or paramedic and got the chance to be up close with Air Life Two, as well as an introduction to physical medicine and sports performance.
Madison Taylor, a senior at Vincennes Lincoln High School said she had an interest in the field before entering the program, “My interest has definitely peaked, and it is such a good opportunity to be here, and they show you so much,” she said.
Holdreith said the program is all about giving students an opportunity. “We want to invest in the future of the kids, invest in the future of Knox County. We want to share what we know, share our experience and help tailor the educational experience to help suit the outcome of these kids.”