WEST PLAINS, Mo. – After a two-year hiatus, Ozarks Healthcare is re-establishing the Medical Academy of Science and Health Camp for students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.
The camp, also known as M.A.S.H., offers 7th- through 12th-grade students hands-on experience and opportunities to explore different professional areas in the medical industry.
Students will witness mock surgeries and learn about X-rays, surgical equipment, how to identify infections and much more – all alongside practicing physicians. Students also will experience life on a nursing floor and see what responding to an emergency situation looks like.
Primary physicians will discuss a variety of topics with the students and detail the pros and cons of working in the medical field. Pulmonologists Dr. Biplab Saha and Dr. Praveen Datar will both be there to discuss multiple lung procedures and to display state-of-the-art medical equipment.
Doctors and nurses also will break down their experience in medical school, and discuss training requirements as well as the different certification processes for several medical careers.
“It’s an exciting time to be interested in healthcare and to really dive in and see if there is an area that you might be interested in pursuing,” said Brittany Simers, marketing and public relations specialist for Ozarks Healthcare.
“After the last two years of the pandemic, there are still ongoing challenges in the healthcare field, and there is a movement among organizations where longtime employees are leaving the field,” Simers told The Heartlander.
“We’re excited about M.A.S.H. Camp happening. We know the desire is out there to help serve communities and health needs. We’re excited to give students the opportunity to get a look at the meaningfulness of serving the health needs of your own people.”
A three-day session for high school students is scheduled for July 11-13, while 7th- and 8th-grade students will attend a one-day session July 14. Lunch and snacks will be provided during camp, along with a set of scrubs and a certificate upon the camp’s conclusion.
A $20 entry fee will be required and must be submitted to Ozarks Healthcare’s Education Department by May 20. Interested students can complete a downloadable online application here.
