Middle school students from around the local region spent the week of July 21-25 at Arcadia University for the College of Health Sciences Health Career Summer Academy. This camp offers a variety of hands-on activities that help middle school students gain valuable knowledge and skills that they can use to pursue their interests in the health field.

The week kicked off with Theresa Smith, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, director of Student Health Services, and Kristin Druien, CRNP, assistant director of Student Health Services, walking the students through the nursing profession. Students were given more information on the different places nurses can work other than a hospital, how a nurse assists with operations, and the different medical equipment nurses use, such as stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, and reflex hammers.

Students then turned their attention to the Physician Assistant and Public Health professions. Faculty from the Physician Assistant program helped students learn what a healthy heart and lungs sound like, giving them a chance to practice on each other using stethoscopes. The students also learned about measuring their heart rates, both while at rest and while active. Public Health faculty helped the students better understand different public health challenges brought on by climate change. Students rotated around the room in small groups, learning about topics such as poor air quality and respiratory health, extreme temperatures, and the spread of disease.

At the end of the week, the group learned from students and faculty in the Physical Therapy program. Various stations featured physical therapy mobility devices, including wheelchairs, crutches, and walkers, which students learned more about and got to try out for themselves. In addition, the students learned about leg strength and jumping, as well as balance, getting to test those skills too.

“The faculty and students who worked with the group really enjoyed how excited they were,” said Dr. Nathalie Musey ’17DPT, who developed the camp as a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Arcadia prior to the pandemic. “They loved explaining to the students what they do and being able to reach the next generation. Many faculty were saying they wished something like this was around when they were younger.” The camp returned in 2023 with Dr. Musey, who is now a physical therapist with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), continuing to lead it. 

On-campus activities were balanced out by two field trips to learn about health careers in action.

The students traveled to the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety. While there, the students were given a look inside an ambulance to see how an EMT works while on the move. Students were also shown  SWAT vehicles, an armored car, and hazmat trucks. The trip ended with a tour of the Montgomery County 911 dispatch center. A dispatcher talked the students through the entire process, from initial phone call to police/EMS dispatch.

The group also visited CHOP’s King of Prussia campus. Employees gave the students a glimpse into different hospital careers, such as pharmacists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. They also learned several integrative health techniques like acupressure, massage, and sound therapy. 

Lastly, Drexel University’s Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies introduced the students to different professions in the field of rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments, such as low vision rehabilitation, vision rehabilitation therapy, and orientation and mobility. Working in small groups, students were able to perform activities with low vision by wearing simulation goggles and tried a braille machine to write and later decode braille messages.

“We are thrilled to support this effort through CHS and the broader University to build pathways and opportunities for future career development in the health field,” said Dr. Margaret Longacre, dean of the College of Health Sciences at Arcadia. “Arcadia faculty and staff contributed greatly to this initiative as well as our community partners. Our goal is to continue to build such opportunities given the significant health needs in communities.”