The North Central Montana AHEC hosted its second Great Falls MedStart Summer Camp during the week of June 23-June 28, 2013. Thirty high school juniors and seniors traveled over 12,895 miles to attend the camp. Students came from as far east as Westby, MT and as far west as Libby, MT. While living at the University of Great Falls dorm rooms and being immersed in campus life, the students spent two days job shadowing over twenty different healthcare careers, explored the Great Falls College-Montana State University's Simulated Hospital, attended college planning sessions, and got hands-on experience with organ dissections! The students also became certified in CPR and First Aid, participated in a community service project, and enjoyed multiple recreational activities within the Great Falls area.

The Great Falls MedStart Camp was also featured on the Great Falls News.  Click the following link to see KFBB's coverage of the camp:  

Can you get more hands-on than this?

 The 4th Annual Bozeman MedStart Summer Camp had 28 High school Juniors and Seniors from around Montana attend from June 16-June 21st, 2013.

The students were introduced to what college life is like for a week. They stayed in the dorms with RAs, toured the campus, enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking the "M" trail, hands-on activities which included; suturing pigs feet, dissecting sheep hearts, learning about disaster preparedness, and experiencing the cadaver lab - and that is just to name a few.

We had a great time this year; but don't take our word for it, here are some testimonials from some of our students:

"I enjoyed the 2013 MedStart camp. I would recommend it to all high school students that are currently tossing around the idea of a medical field. I came to this camp because I knew I wanted to work in medicine, but I wasn't sure which occupation was best for me. I must thank all of the staff that told us about their jobs. I loved that they gave us that opportunity. Some people may have already known what their job was going to be, but not me. The activities presented showed the interesting (or not interesting) cycle of careers. So thank you MedStart, I think I have an idea of my future path now."

 "I feel like Med Start was a big opportunity for me and that I was lucky to receive it. It was really great to see the variety of occupations in the medical field and learn the basics of each. I definitely feel like I have a great advantage to pursue something big. I was really glad and thankful for the chance to see the cadavers here at the University because I know not very many people can access them. MedStart really broadened my view in the medical field and gave me many options to seek."