Space
still available in Health Science Teacher Training Workshop!
The Health Science
Teacher Training workshop being held at the Missoula College of Technology from June 7 - 11 has just a few spaces left. |
|
Contact
Renee Harris for more information or to enroll. | |
|
Med Start Summer Camp Update
|
| We received over 140 applications for the Med Start Summer Camp! Due to this overwhelming response, we will not know the successful applicants until the week of May 17th. Please pass this information onto any students you know who may have applied.
We are doing our best to carefully review each and every application and your patience is much appreciated.
For questions, please contact Bergen Morehouse
| |
|
Join Our List
|
 |
|
|
|
Connecting Students to Health Careers
|
| Greetings!
Decisions, Decisions!
For many students, spring is a time of making decisions: What courses should I take next year? Should I go to college? Two year or four year? If I go to work, will I still be able to go to college later?
Students today face enormous challenges as they move toward their future educational and career choices. College, and even graduate degrees, have become the norm for increasing numbers of professions, while at the same time school is more expensive than ever, and concerns about the economy and job prospects can feel overwhelming.
Students need a network of caring adults who can guide them as they consider their future. We at the Montana AHEC envision this network providing exposure to career options, direction and guidance about getting there, and support while in training and looking for work.
We invite and encourage you to check out the resources in this newsletter, and available on the websites of the four regional offices, and to share them with your students! |
| HOSA State Conference | 2010 HOSA Conference a Success!
Approximately 100 students from across Montana met in Billings April 22-24th for the 2010 HOSA State Conference. Chapters from Flathead High, Sentinel High, Capital High, Helena High, CMR High, Great Falls High, Augusta High, and Billings were present. Guests from Glacier High, Browning, and Roundup who are all interested in starting HOSA Chapters next fall, also participated.
Students competed in over 25 events ranging from Sports Medicine and CPR/First Aid to Veterinary Assisting and Medical Terminology. Awards were presented to the top three finishers in each competitive event and some students plan to go on to the National HOSA Competition in Orlando, Florida this coming June!
During the Conference, students also had the opportunity to take part in educational symposia throughout Billings, including Veterinary Medicine at Zoo Montana, Athletic Training at MSU-Billings, the Cancer Center at Billings Clinic, the Family Birth Center at Billings Clinic, and United Blood Services.
For full conference information, please visit our website www.montanahosa.org.
To see photos of HOSA SLC, check out our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180352&id=127370591743
|
| R.E.A.C.H. Update | R.E.A.C.H. Programs in Full Swing State-Wide
 Across the state over the past month, high school students have had opportunities to Research and Explore Awesome Careers in Healthcare!
The Eastern Montana AHEC sponsored three successful REACH camps in the month of April.
On April 14th, over 30 students from Circle High School spent the day at the McCone County Health Center & McCone Clinic.  Students enjoyed lab, nursing, radiology, physical therapy, emergency medical services and hospital management stations throughout the event. Special thanks to Nancy Hansen, CEO, McCone County Health Center & McCone Clinic, and her staff for their hard work in pulling the event together. Tara Hubing, Circle High School, is also to be commended for promoting the event to her students, as well as preparing them for the day.
On April 20th, thirteen students from Sidney, Savage and Fairview enjoyed stations in the lab, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, nursing, rehab services, emergency medical services, nutrition services, radiology and support services at the Sidney Health Center. Special thanks to the staff and medical professionals at Sidney Health Center, particularly Trisha Wolf, Lisa Aisenbrey a nd Rita Steinbeisser.
On April 27th, the Eastern Montana tour was concluded with a REACH camp in Poplar at the Northeast Montana Health Services Poplar Hospital. Fifteen students enjoyed such events as a mock ambulance run, an ultrasound in radiology, suturing, blood typing, and various nursing activities. Peg Norgaard, CEO, NEMHS, and her staff did a fantastic job coordinating the day.
We would also like to recognize the Montana Health Network for participating in the Circle and Poplar camps by bringing their state-of-the-art simulator. Students gained even more first-hand experience and reported the simulator as their favorite part of the day in many instances!
The South Central Montana AHEC held two REACH programs this spring.
On April 28th, 35 students from Beaverhead County High School, Lima High School, and one home schooled-student, attended REACH at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare in Dillon. Students were able to select and participate in their top eight stations from the following list of both clinical and non-clinical stations: emergency room, health information management, hospital pharmacy, information technology, laboratory, materials management, mechanical facility design and repair, medical clinic, nutritional services, patient financial services, radiology, rehabilitation services, respiratory therapy, rural nursing, and surgery. Special thanks to the counselors Bob Pebbles and Nancy Stout from Beaverhead County High School, Ann Congdon and Connie Gay from Lima High School, and Tammy Brickzin and Tracy Clarno at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare.
On May 3rd, 3 0 students from Three Forks High School, Manhattan High School, and one home schooled-student attended REACH at Broadwater Health Center in Townsend. Students rotated through eight stations, including dental, emergency room, facility services, nutritional services, radiology, activities, laboratory, and EMT. Sam Allen and Lorrie Vennes, both at Broadwater Health Center as well as Thom Peck and Steven Hamilton from Three Forks High School and Mikal Jones from Manhattan High School all played a key role in organizing this program.
Interested in a REACH Program in your area? Contact your local AHEC Office: |
Hands on Health Update
| | Hands on Health Visits Montana Communities
Hands on Health, the interactive exhibition about health and health professions, has been logging some serious miles! It has been thrilling to visit communities across the state and share Hands on Health with well over 1500 students and community visitors so far!  Our travels have taken us to... - Thompson Falls Elementary School
- Kennedy Elementary School (Butte)
- Anaconda Senior Center
- Fort Belknap Tribal Health Service- Shelby High School - MonDak Heritage Center (Sidney) Upcoming events include Kalispell and Polson. Here is what teachers are saying about the program: "What an awesome learning museum!" "Great hands on science! The kids loved it!" "My students had such a wonderful time and learned so much!" "I think we need more of these kinds of programs!"
Interested in a Hands on Health outreach event in your community? We would LOVE to talk with you about getting you on the schedule for the 2010-2011 school year. Questions about Hands on Health
What age of student is Hands on Health appropriate for?
Students in K-12th grade have visited the exhibition, although it is primarily for K-8th. The educators alter their presentations to the age of the students.
 How many students can visit the exhibition at a time?The best size for a class visit is 30 or fewer. For larger groups, we require volunteers to assist.
What is the cost?
A two-day stay, which includes a free Family Science Night event for the community, is $2400, which allows us to pay the expert educators who travel with the exhibition. Transportation costs have been reduced for the coming year by a generous grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana.
Communities who have booked Hands on Health so far have located funding from the following sources:
* PTO Fundraising
* Dedicated school funding for Gifted Education; Title 1 Curriculum Funding
* Local hospitals have been very generous, including:
Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Plains
Community Hospital of Anaconda
Kalispell Regional Medical Center
* Tribal Health Service
Who do I contact for more information?
|
| Website of the Month: The Body Explained! |
Just what the doctor ordered! Short, funny, informative video clips
designed to spark students' interest in  the body's anatomy and function!
Each video clip, about 1 minute in length, answers a question about the body - for example, Why do ears "pop"? What causes blushing? What's happening when your feet "fall asleep?"
Dr. Cassius Bordelon, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Cell Biology at Baylor College of Medicine and an expert on anatomy. He also has a wry and winning sense of humor! These clips would be a great addition to any class focused on health, the body, or health careers.
|
| Free Webinar |
"National Physical Activity Plan for the United States: why was it developed and what is the plan for the future?" Friday, May 14th, 2010 10:00 - 11:00 am (Mountain Time) Registration details: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/858402699 Call in: (888) 617-3400 Room: 695912 Presented by: Cathy Costakis, M.S. Physical Activity Coordinator Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program
The U.S. National Physical Activity Plan has a vision: One day, all Americans will be physically active and they will live, work, and play in environments that facilitate regular physical activity. Come hear how this first physical activity plan for the nation was developed, who are the partners, and what is the plan for its use in the future. Cathy Costakis is the Physical Activity Coordinator for the Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program and was a participant in the development of this plan.
For connection details or any other questions, please contact: Shalina Mirza
shalina.mirza@montana.edu
(406) 994-5310
 |
Career Spotlight: Dental Hygienist
|
Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.
In performing the dental hygiene process of care, the dental hygienist educates patients regarding oral hygiene and preventive oral care; assesses the patient's oral tissues and overall health determining the presence or absence of disease, other abnormalities and disease risks; develops a dental hygiene diagnosis based on clinical findings; formulates evidence-based, patient-centered treatment care plans; performs the clinical procedures outlined in the treatment care plan; and evaluates the outcomes of educational strategies and clinical procedures provided.
Clinical procedures provided typically include removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth, exposing and processing dental X-rays, applying cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants, and administering antimicrobial agents. In some states, they also administer local anesthetics and nitrous oxide; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; perform root-planing as a periodontal therapy and smooth and polish restorations. In addition, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for interpretation by other health professionals.
Becoming a dental hygienist takes two - six years after high school graduation, and earnings are projected to be approximately $55,000 per year, with excellent job growth.
In Montana, students can train to become dental hygienists at the MSU College of Technology in Great Falls.
Dental Hygiene is a profession that is eligible for Student Loan Repayment through the National Health Service Corps!
|
| AHEC - The Basics |
This E-News is being sent to you by the Montana Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in order to open a dialogue among educators about Health Science Education for K-12 students of Montana. Through this newsletter we intend to:
1) build a shared resource of activities, materials, and lesson plans to draw on in teaching the health sciences
2) highlight the cross-curriculum nature of the health sciences
3) build an interest in and awareness of health career paths for students in the state of Montana
Please contact us with your comments, ideas, questions or projects you'd like to see highlighted in future issues of this e-newsletter. And thank you for the work you do every day to inspire and support Montana kids! |
|
|
Sincerely,
Montana AHECs (Area Health Education Centers)
|
|
|
