Pulse

Local Students Explore Healthcare Careers

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students holding brain

Dozens of high school students from Chesapeake, Northampton, and Portsmouth spent part of their summer immersed in the world of medicine through the EVMS Health Sciences Academy at Old Dominion University.

This free, two-week summer program is hosted by Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University. The academy offers students a firsthand look at the wide range of careers in healthcare, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experiences and interactive workshops.

Participants gain insight into real-world medical environments by shadowing physicians and healthcare providers across a variety of specialties. Throughout the two weeks, students explore topics such as human anatomy, suturing, ultrasound, art therapy, dentistry, nursing, speech pathology, audiology and public health.

"I came to the Health Sciences Academy to open my horizons to the different health sciences and to get more experience to help me understand what I want to do in the future," said Kyleigh Story, Portsmouth Public Schools student. "One thing I really liked was being able to ultrasound an actual person. That was very cool. I did the heart and I was able to see the actual valves open as blood pumped through."

Each student receives a certificate of achievement and a deeper understanding of the many pathways available in the healthcare field.

“I would like to thank the donors for the opportunity to take part in this program and learn more about careers in medicine," said Wesley Harper, Chesapeake Public Schools student. "I wouldn’t have been able to do this on my own.”

Launched in 2019, the EVMS Health Sciences Academy has remained tuition-free thanks to generous support from donors including the Beazley Foundation; Betty B. Bibbins, MD (MD ’82) and Paul E. Bibbins, Jr., Ph.D. ’86; Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation; Kurt McCammon, MD, Devine Chair in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery and professor of Urology; Carol McCammon, MD, M.P.H. (M.P.H. '12), assistant professor of Emergency Medicine; PNC Bank; The John and Harriet Malbon Family Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation; Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation; Portsmouth United; Southeast Virginia Community Foundation; and Tidewater Children’s Foundation.

To learn more or support the Health Sciences Academy, please call 757.965.8500 or visit evms.edu/hsagiving.