Since COVID, the Health Science academy invites Norton Children’s Just for Kids transport team to Atherton for first year students to learn more on healthcare. First-year students are able to get an idea of what healthcare is like for the first time. Three stations were set up in Center Hall, featuring a micro-preemie doll, medical bags, and respiratory equipment. Outside, students viewed an ambulance truck up close and inside.
Mrs. Green is one of the health science teachers here at Atherton, and teaches Principles of Biomedical Science, one of the two classes that received the opportunity to attend this showcase. She introduced the Norton Just For Kids Transport Team to talk to students.
“We have a team of medical professionals here, here today there’s a nurse, two respiratory therapists, a driver/nurse, Bobby (EMT) and Ashley ( RT) are here every year,” Green explained.
“We are kind of at the mercy of their schedule, they [Just For Kids Transport Team] are coming off of 12 or 18 hour shifts, so it’s really getting them free. We’ve been lucky so far, at least since COVID, to have the opportunity to have them out here. It’s the kids that are just starting out, so it’s kind of an engagement opportunity, I think it’s just a really exciting thing for the students to do. I think it is really good for them to maybe start trying to figure out careers but also just get them excited about the medical field.”
Ashley Houser is a part of the Norton children’s Just for Kids transport team. As part of the only regional transport team in the state, Houser’s job for the team is a Respiratory Therapist. Houser’s specialty is ventilation, how to help someone with asthma breathe better or how to stabilize an airway.
Houser states on why it’s important for the students to learn healthcare: “We are the only regional transport team in the state, so it’s important they see specialists that can treat them and can bring them to Norton Children’s hospital and that we can treat all ages.”
Ashley Houser hopes her team will be able to keep the tradition going for future Atherton Ravens wanting a career in healthcare.
The Transport team gave many insights to students on their skills. Since the beginning of school, the first-year students were able to experience what Atherton can offer in our academies. Even as first-year students, it’s important to explore career interests early on as future classes will help even more once students can pick a pathway.
