Middle school students rub elbows with medical pros at Northridge Hospital
Northridge Hospital Medical Center (NHMC) and its Family Medicine Residency Program hosted a “Mini Medical School” for more than 40 students from Northridge Middle School, who got a chance to learn about the healthcare profession from doctors and medical students.
At the event on Wednesday, April 12, medical professionals at NHMC taught the students some basic hands-on skills such as how to use medical instruments, read an X-ray, take a blood pressure reading, and bandage a sprain.
Dr. Alexander Kertzner demonstrates how to read an X-ray to middle school students. More than 40 Northridge middle school students participate in a “mini medical school” at Dignity Health-Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023. The students got a chance to experience skills such as using medical instruments, reading X-rays, observing ultrasounds on patient volunteers, taking blood pressure, bandaging sprains and identifying the body’s organs during the event. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dr. Eric Gama demonstrates an ultrasound on nurse Carmen Martinez for middle school students. More than 40 Northridge middle school students participate in a “mini medical school” at Dignity Health-Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023. The students got a chance to experience skills such as using medical instruments, reading X-rays, observing ultrasounds on patient volunteers, taking blood pressure, bandaging sprains and identifying the body’s organs during the event. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Physician Catherine Khasho shows students Angel Garrido and Bryan Barahona how to wrap a hand and wrist. More than 40 Northridge middle school students participate in a “mini medical school” at Dignity Health-Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023. The students got a chance to experience skills such as using medical instruments, reading X-rays, observing ultrasounds on patient volunteers, taking blood pressure, bandaging sprains and identifying the body’s organs during the event. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“We are so excited to be hosting the Mini Medical School for middle school-aged students in the hopes of inspiring them to pursue opportunities in the medical profession,” said Eric Gama, a family medicine doctor.
Gama noted that many students in underprivileged communities don’t have access to educational resources that could introduce to them to a career in the healthcare field. “That is why it’s so imperative that we give them the chance to learn about medicine while providing them some engaging skills and tools along the way,” he said.
