‘Where the magic happens’

More than 300 students from area schools converged at Oakland University for the 7^th Annual Careers in Healthcare event.

Held Feb. 3, the program was co-sponsored by Oakland University Pre-College Programs, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and Oakland Schools.

Youngsters from Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Southfield, Madison Heights, and Oak Park attended. They took part in sessions held throughout the OU’s Oakland Center intended to expand awareness of careers in health care.

“(OUWB) realizes that so many underserved areas are not exposed to the many different careers in health care,” said Trixy Hall, former coordinator, Graduate Programs and Community Outreach, OUWB.

“Most kids know about doctors and nurses, and that’s it,” she added. “We tried to give them a wider range of possibilities within health care.”

Sessions tackled various topics: the journey from middle school to medical school; coping strategies for stress; respiratory therapy; hands-only CPR; bioethics; radiology; and more.

A total of 12 faculty and staff from OUWB volunteered to host or co-host sessions. (Another 10 faculty and staff volunteered to help with the event.)

A session called “Pharmacy in Practice” was led by Anna Kochanowska-Karamyan, M.Pharm, Ph.D., associate professor, and Vardan Karamyan, Pharm.D., Ph.D., professor – both from the Department of Foundational Medical Studies.

Students learned where pharmacists work, how to become pharmacists, and had an opportunity to make their own hand sanitizers.

It resonated well with Jaymia Price, an 11^th grader from Pontiac International Technology Academy who already is thinking about becoming a pharmacist.

“I got to understand that being a pharmacist is not just about pills and stuff,” she said. “There are many different things pharmacists do.”

Another session was led by Malli Barremkala, M.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies. He taught the youngsters about the heart using real heart specimens from the OUWB Anatomy Lab.

He stressed that physical, hands-on observation is crucial to truly understanding structure, function, disease, and treatment. Further, he helped students understand that the hearts being studied once belonged to people who donated their bodies to science for medical education.

Brian Felice, M.D., an ER physician, associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, and assistant dean, Community Integration and Outreach, demonstrates a procedure for young students.

It’s exactly these kinds of experiences that make Careers in Healthcare so beneficial, said Paul Galbenski, supervisor, K-12 Career Readiness, Oakland Schools.

“This event is super important because it helps students connect what they are learning in school – particularly in science or math classes – with careers,” he said. “It also provides access so that they can ask questions. ‘How do I become a radiologist? How do I become a dietician? How do move into the world of medicine?’”

“When we’re able to bring it all together like this, that’s where the magic happens,” he added.

Students all seemed to take something different away from the day.

Sophie Menker, a student from Oak Park High School, said she definitely had a favorite part.

“I liked the CPR session the best,” she said. “We practiced on the dummies and learned how to perform CPR.”

Madison Sekol, a student from Avondale High School, said she found the experience helpful for her future aspirations to become a nurse.

“I liked seeing what they can do with X-rays, MRIs, and mammograms,” she said.

Kailani Moua, also from International Technology Academy, said she took a lot away from the event.

“Everything was really helpful for my future,” she said. “I want to work in health care when I grow up.”

Kendall Blendsoe, a student from Pontiac Middle School, said she found a session about the costs of college most useful. (The session was hosted by Gregory Ashe, associate director, Financial Services, OUWB, and Autumn Robinson, advisor, Financial Services, OUWB.)

“My favorite part was learning about tuition, loans and scholarships to help plan for college,” she said.

Such feedback shows that the event is accomplishing what organizers hope for, said Teresa Rodges, senior director, Pre-College Programs and Community Partnerships, OU.

“I want these students to know that college is possible for them,” she said. “And to know that coming to Oakland University is a possibility ... and that they can make it. They can have successful careers. That’s what today is all about.”

Kayla Rieger contributed to this report.