First Biomedical Career Fair Gives Students a Hands-On Look at Their Future
Students often enroll in the Project Lead the Way program at Hendrick Hudson High School based on their interest in biomedical careers. This week, those students and classmates had an opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and even practice new skills alongside professionals from eight different biomedical fields.
Teachers Rene Patterson and Mary Dempsey organized and hosted the first PLTW Biomedical Career Fair in the school’s Biomed Suite. Students were eager to attend and filled the space with energy and curiosity throughout the event, which began on Thursday, April 23.
“I think it’s amazing,” junior Aaarti Tajasekar said. “We conduct a lot of different labs in our class, but this is a great experience to talk to people from different professions. I love that this gives us the chance to have more physical examples and a different way to see new technologies.”
Students had an opportunity to learn from nurses and doctors, EMTs, paramedics, veterinary technicians, a criminalist, and a scientist, among others. Many of them are active participants in the PLTW program, which is a signature offering in Hendrick Hudson. Last year, the school was named a PLTW Distinguished School for the eighth consecutive year — becoming the only high school in New York State to receive the distinction for eight straight years.
“Part of the Project Lead the Way curriculum includes meeting and learning about different biomedical professionals and what their jobs entail,” Ms. Patterson said. “I wanted to do something where we could have the students experience a variety all at once. They’ve been able to pick and choose who they want to talk to here.”
Younger students were given an assignment to pick three professionals and gather information for a class project. Older students had the freedom to explore and learn more about career paths they are considering, either studying them in college or pursuing them after graduation.
Many of the presenters brought more than just knowledge to the fair. Students had a chance to practice intubating a patient and performing a laparoscopy — the latter using a laparoscope that was donated by a Hendrick Hudson parent.
These first-hand experiences resonated with the students, who said they were eager to learn more.
“We had an opportunity to ask questions about their personal experiences and other aspects of their job,” freshman Griffin Piccolo-Hill said. “We have had a chance to see what their actual career entails instead of just researching it.”