SUU Center for Rural Health

On June 9 - 11, the Center hosted its 10th annual Health Career Exploration Camp at SUU. Students from Vernal to St. George, Green River to Montezuma Creek, Delta to Tropic and everywhere in between joined in for a fun-filled camp. While at the camp, participants were divided into six groups and rotated among sixteen different workshops. Each group was assigned to SUU pre-medical or pre-dental students who serve as camp counselors. Some of the workshops featured health career skills

where participants learned to how to suture, cast arms, check blood sugar levels, take a blood pressure, intubate and maintain an airway, give an injection, provide first-aid, use and read an EKG machine, take an x-ray and more. In science labs students looked at blood smears through microscopes, learned how diseases are spread, extracted their own DNA, made their own teeth impressions, dissected sheep eyes and cow hearts, learned how to investigate a crime scene and learned about pharmacy by making their own lip balm. Careers that were featured included, Respiratory Therapy, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Medical Technologist, Physician, Veterinarian, Forensic Science, EMT, Radiologist, Pharmacist, Geneticist, and Dentist.

Students also participated in the SUU Challenge Course where they learned team-work and leadership skills. A dance and catered dinner at a local park were also highlights of the camp.

Participants were housed at The Eccles Living Learning Center at SUU and were able to experience what college life would be like as they lived and learned together while at Southern Utah University.

Center staff attribute the growing success of the camps to the strong partnerships with health professions training programs. In addition to local health providers and SUU faculty, workshops were conducted by the University of Utah College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology programs, as well as Dixie College radiology program and Weber State's respiratory therapy program.

Secondary schools also provide support by providing instructors and transportation for students. San Juan School District provided a bus that transported students from four San Juan high schools as well as Green River.

In an effort to enhance partnership and outreach programs, the Center is currently planning regional, one-day mini-camps. The first of these will be held in the Uintah Basin in November.