The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment (OSDE) recently hosted a group of seniors from Tampa Bay Technical High School for a five-day immersive health care experience at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS).

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine hosted 23 seniors from Tampa Bay Technical High School’s Academy of Health Professions for a five-day hands-on learning experience at CAMLS.

OSDE and the USF Health Experimental Learning Lab collaborated to provide clinical simulations for Tampa Bay Tech seniors.  Students participated in four modules including abdominal, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological diagnosis before participating in an all-encompassing experience on the final day.  Additionally, students worked with patient actors to learn how to take medical histories of patients, and reach a diagnosis of their simulated ailments by asking relevant questions, monitoring body language, and applying all of the knowledge they’ve learned through the week to reach their conclusion.  Arun Roy, a Tampa Bay Tech senior and future University of South Florida student, described the experience as one of the most enlightening and informative experiences since he originally took an interest in pursuing a career in health care.

Arun Roy, Tampa Bay Tech senior, works the ultrasound probe with Josh Shultz, MCOM fourth-year medical student, during a five-day hands-on experience facilitated by the MCOM Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment and CAMLS.

“The hands-on learning and informational sessions from the students, faculty and staff were the best part of this experience,” Roy said. “I came with the expectation to learn something new every day and this experience didn’t disappoint me.  I look forward to staying in communication with the [OSDE} team and continue diving in to the details of what it means to have a career and health care.”

Fourth-year medical students served as instructors and mentors to the students.  Josh Shultz, one of the medical student volunteers, was impressed with how smart and intuitive the students were throughout the week.

“This is something I wish I had in high school,” Shultz said. “This is an incredibly bright group of students that have the advantage of participating in a great program like the one they have at their school and getting this opportunity for some hands-on learning.”

Cynia McDonald-McCall and Jonathan Figueroa, Tampa Bay Technical High School seniors, conduct a patient interview with a patient actor during the final day of a five-day hands-on experience facilitated by the MCOM Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment and CAMLS.

The MCOM Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment is dedicated to promoting an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity in the student and resident population in the medical school. The partnership between the high school and MCOM aims to help students persist in their pursuit of a career in the health professions.

“Medical schools across the country develop programs and services aimed at improving the diversity of the health care workforce. A workforce that is reflective of the population leads to better patient outcomes,” said Shirley Smith, OSDE director.

Additional images from the week: