Inaugural Healthcare Career Summer Camp for Rising High School Seniors
Posted on June 29, 2023 by CAHP
The Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions introduced the inaugural Healthcare Career Summer Camp on June 15 to 25 rising high school seniors from Mobile and Baldwin counties.
During the daylong camp, students were introduced to allied health professions including biomedical sciences, emergency medical services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, radiologic sciences, speech pathology, audiology, research and other biomedical careers.
The camp was designed with future healthcare professionals in mind, giving high school students a look at the student experience at South while also catering to their interest in healthcare.
Students had the opportunity to participate in hands-on experiments designed by faculty from all seven allied health departments. Activities included hands-on CPR and bleeding control, a wound suturing, incision and drainage workshop, physical therapy and occupational therapy relay competitions, learning how to produce an x-ray image, DNA extraction, and simulations of speech pathology and audiology clinical scenarios.
“An event like this gives prospective students the opportunity to take a much closer look into the healthcare careers offered here,” Bonnie Minton, assistant professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and camp committee member, said. “We worked hard to ensure that the simulated activities offered were as realistic as possible for the campers.”
Throughout the day, faculty and staff were available to answer any questions about career paths, degree levels and program differences.
Students enjoyed a campus tour on their way to lunch led by Sydney Green, professional health sciences graduate and occupational therapy student. While at lunch, students were also greeted by members of the South Alabama Prowlers Dance Team and Miss Pawla, one of South’s mascots.
Students expressed their appreciation for the event throughout the day. One student saying that this was the best 20 dollars she had ever spent.
“Our inaugural Healthcare Career Camp went extremely well! Moving forward, we hope
to expand this camp to a larger number of students and to collaborate with other healthcare
programs on campus like nursing and medicine,” Dean Susan Gordon-Hickey said.