Medical Explorers program provides vital hands-on experience for future healthcare workers
By Devese “Dee” Ursery
HIGHLAND — HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland held an Medical Explorer event that gave Madison County high school students an opportunity to gain some invaluable practice.
To help interest local high school students in pursuing medical careers, a new program was launched in December 2023 hosted by HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland. Approximately 28 students from Highland and Wesclin High Schools participated in the inaugural Medical Explorers event at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The Medical Explorers program is part of the Health Care Career Exploring program through Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts, a mentorship program that helps students with an interest in learning more about careers in health care fields. The Medical Explorers program is held twice a semester on a Saturday or weeknight for a couple of hours, with different topics each time led by doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to expose the students to a variety of careers.
The immersive experience gave the students hands-on experience with medical techniques used by physicians in various specialties. Dr. Jose Diaz, general surgeon, Dr. David Neighbors, retired family medicine and Dr. Robert Schaefer also of family medicine from the HSHS Medical Group volunteered their time to educate the students, per the release.
The students learned about common musculoskeletal sports injuries and practiced wrapping techniques as well as had the opportunity to suture pigs’ feet.
In Southern Illinois, the Medical Explorers program began in 2018 at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon with the Collinsville and Edwardsville High Schools, according to a press release from St. Joseph’s Hospital. Since the program’s inception the initiative has spread to schools throughout the Metro East area.
There are Medical Explorers programs currently in partnership with Collinsville, Triad, Maryville Christian High Schools; along with Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon. Other high schools include Belleville-Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville East and West High Schools, Edwardsville High School, Governor French Academy in Belleville, O’Fallon High School with Highland and Wesclin High Schools being the newest additions. The program partners with the local hospital in each area to host the program.
The program is a passion of Dr. Bob Farmer, who helped launch the first Southern Illinois program. He drew inspiration from retired surgeon Dr. Morris Kugler, who had the vision for a medical explorers’ program and was instrumental in getting the program off the ground in the Metro East area.
Framer continues to play a key role in coordinating and launching new programs throughout the region in partnership with Metro East Scouting program director, Julie Monken.
Monken, a Highland native introduced the program to Highland High School, which led to the recent inaugural program in Highland. Neighbors, who volunteer at Wesclin High School as a teacher and coach, brought in Wesclin to participate as well.
Farmer shared how students are selected to participate in the program.
“It truly is a joint effort with the local schools. School counselors and science teachers help identify juniors or seniors that have an interest in the sciences and would be a good fit for the program. They work with the students to get them signed up for the program through the Scouts,” Farmer said. “Likewise, this is a partnership with area hospitals and medical staff. At each location, the medical staff members have donated money to fund the program, whether by providing the medical supplies, equipment or paying for any scouting registration fees for students who may want to participate but are unable to afford it. They all have been extremely generous.”
Besides allowing students the opportunity to learn skills in the healthcare field, the Medical Explorers program also introduces the students to the local health care facilities and staff members.
“By mentoring the students at a young age and introducing them to the possibilities of a healthcare career, we hope some might pursue the sciences in college and continue in the medical/nursing field,” Farmer said. “Students can also pursue a technical degree as a phlebotomist or radiology tech, and then return home to practice and care for their family and friends. Regardless of where they pursue a healthcare career, they are still helping others.”
For more information about the Medical Explorers program, contact Julie Monken, Metro East Scouting program director, at [email protected].
Students from Highland and Wesclin High Schools participate in the inaugural Medical Explorers program at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland on Dec. 6. The program’s goal is to interest local high school students in pursuing medical careers, (Photo courtesy of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland)
