Community partners provide hands-on experience

Students interested in today’s health care field have a wide range of career options, and the Indio High School Health Academy works to pave the way for their students. Their career/tech program is designed to provide students with knowledge and an understanding of health/medical sciences and careers. In addition to class education, the Academy provides essential hands-on skills, job shadowing, internships, field trips, and guest speaker presentations to ensure students’ success in their college and career choices.

The Indio Health Academy encourages and motivates students who wish to pursue a career as a doctor, nurse, medical equipment technician, veterinarian, paramedic, medical assistant, sports medicine practitioner, dental assistant, and many other medical-related careers. A forensic science course is even offered.

The Academy’s three-year interdisciplinary program is open to all incoming sophomores and juniors who are interested in pursuing a degree in a medical-related field. In an effort to prepare students for a challenging medical curriculum, English, social studies, science, and health occupations teachers collaborate to develop a rigorous academic curriculum for students. Students are offered opportunities to examine health sciences and medical practices around the world, make ethical decisions to improve the health and quality of life in our community, and practice skills in health science beyond the classroom walls. Students also learn to participate in society as advocates for a healthy community.

Senior interns who fulfill a year-long volunteer internship commitment obtain many of the basics in vital signs skills and medical terminology; CPR/AED and first-aid certifications; EKG and methods of injections; anatomy, physiology, human growth and development, biology, chemistry, diseases and conditions; as well as, confidentiality ethics, universal standards, and front/back office skills.

Thirty of the Indio Health Academy students attended the California HOSA State Leadership Conference in Sacramento last year. The conference offered workshops, sight-seeing trips to the capitol, and group competitions. “We are proud to report that half of our teams advanced to the second round in their category, and we could not be more proud of these outstanding young scholars and leaders,” said Donnell Jordan, Jr., Lead Teacher for the Medical Health Academy. “Best of all, these amazing young people came back filled with confidence and pride.”

The program could not take place without the support of community partners, including JFK Memorial Hospital, Volunteers in Medicine, AVID Physical Therapy, and Dr. Alejandro Bautista, who provide unique experiences for students through job-shadowing and internships. JFK is an active participant hosting students in the emergency room, radiology, labor/delivery, and the nursery. Their staff continues to encourage and mentor students to stay focused and continue in their education.

For more information on Coachella Valley Health Academies or to become a community partner, please contact Donna Sturgeon at [email protected].