Sawyer Zeece will be one of the first
medical sciences students.
New High School Touts Medical Science Focus
Lincoln’s newest high school will be home to the city’s newest science focus program, thanks to a partnership with the Bryan College of Health Sciences.
When Lincoln Northwest High School opens this August at Northwest 48th and West Holdrege streets, 15 juniors will comprise the Medical Sciences Focus Program’s first cohort.
The program’s goal is to be an affordable, accessible pathway into medical professions, many of which are classified as high-wage, high-need and high-skill, says Jason States, the program’s director.
As juniors, students will study health professions, health care ethics and medical terminology. They’ll also complete a Basic Nursing Assistant course to become certified nursing assistants.
As seniors, they’ll study anatomy and physiology, complete a capstone course and have the option to take a phlebotomy course at BCHS.
Two Simulation Labs Onsite
Northwest will be equipped with two simulation labs set up like hospital rooms and four medical mannequins.
“The need for qualified health care workers in Lincoln and surrounding areas is not going away,” notes BCHS President Rich Lloyd. “To start building interest in the medical sciences early on is imperative to building our work force well into the future.”
Graduates will earn 13 college credits. Courses will be offered at a reduced tuition rate ($150 per credit hour), and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible for free tuition through the ACE Scholarship program. Thanks to generous donors, the Bryan Foundation will pay the cost of the Basic Nursing Assistant and non-credit phlebotomy courses.
“I think the most important thing a student can do is explore options,” says BCHS Provost Kelsi Anderson. “There is more to health care careers than just being a doctor or nurse, and that’s not really clear in the public perception. That’s really what we want to do for students through this program — not only provide them access to college credits but also introduce them to the breadth of careers available,” she says.
Connecting the Curriculum
Program administrators want students to see connections between everyday lessons and the medical sciences early and often. The formal pathway program is for 11th and 12th graders who apply and are accepted, but medical sciences will permeate Northwest’s curriculum for all students.
This summer, LNW teachers are participating in a workshop to explore ways to infuse medical concepts into 9th and 10th grade math and science lessons.
For example, freshmen studying physical sciences could apply knowledge about waves and frequencies to explain how an ultrasound machine works. Biology lessons may include information about medical abnormalities, genetic diseases and evolution. In math, the fundamentals of exponential growth could be used to predict bacterial growth, and algebra could help determine the proper concentration for a saline solution based on body weight.
“For students who know they want to enter the medical field, they will be highly engaged in this program,” says James Blake, director of strategic initiatives and focus programs for Lincoln Public Schools.
“Those who do not see a medical career as their end goal will still enhance their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, which are essential to future success in any field.”
Plans for Expansion
States is already brainstorming opportunities to increase the program’s size and to diversify its offerings. Initially, the capacity will be 75 juniors and 75 seniors, but just as Lincoln Northwest is expected to grow quickly, States hopes the program’s capacity will follow suit.
He foresees a shadowing experience between students’ junior and senior years, during which they spend a week in a department at Bryan Health to see how doctors, nurses, technicians, billing staff and other team members each contribute to the department’s outcomes. He would also like to tap into more BCHS courses to enable students to take classes like Spanish for Health Professions or the History of Military Medicine.
“This program is giving students experience that’s going to help them move into whatever pathway they want, whether that be nursing, physician assistant, medical doctor, optometrist, or whatever,” States adds. “Providing experiences so they have a better idea what they want to go into after high school, that’s what this is all about.”
Find more information about the Bryan College of Health Science Focus program at https://healthsciences.lps.org/.
To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health and the Bryan College of Health Sciences, call 402-481-8605.
