Edinburg, TX–A Migrant Mission CISD student wears a mask and gloves and leans over his patient, carefully stitching together the open wound. When he is finished, the neat row of sutures could be mistaken for the work of a professional, but this is the first time performing surgery. Of course, this Mission CISD student is closing this wound on a skin model while participating in the College 1st Health Professions CAMP at the UTRGV School of Medicine.
The Health Professions CAMP is designed to introduce students to a wide array of medical careers through interactive, project-based learning in an industry long known to be expanding.
Since 2015, the Mission CISD Migrant Department partnered with the College 1st Program to offer students CAMPs on different fast-growing career pathways, becoming one of the school districts in the region to offer their Migrant students a head start in preparing for their future career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care has become the largest source of jobs in the United States. The healthcare industry has long been one of the fastest growing in the US, driven in large part by the aging of the American population. We can see this growth here in the Rio Grande Valley where the demand for healthcare professionals has been increasing considerably. “It was exciting to see how medical students work around this school, because I'm hoping to come here one day and becoming a doctor myself”– Damian Vallejo, Mission CISD Migrant Student
Mission CISD and the migrant department of education wants to expose students to different career opportunities and emerging technologies that have made waves in the medical field. Economic trends toward increasing automation suggests that the best prepared professionals of tomorrow will know how to interact with technology and harness its advantages. “My experience today cool, because I want to study medicine and getting to know the medical school was amazing” said Issac Raya, Mission CISD Migrant Student.
During the Health Professions CAMP, not only do students use virtual reality glasses to explore the circulatory system but also take part in similar training that medical professionals are exposed to. They use human skin models and suturing kits to perform surgery and get to experience what it’s like to be a nurse during a vitals rotation. Moreover, the students are mentored by the College 1st instructors and medical students to think of the broader effects of technology on medical professions and society by-and-large.“I want to be a doctor to help kids, this CAMP really inspires me to follow my dreams.” said Keira Raya, Mission CISD Migrant Student.
As students reviewed the human anatomy and explore different career options they can pursue in the medical filed, the implementation of hands-on activities provided them with practical skills that medical professionals often aren’t exposed to until college. From removing cavities from teeth models to suturing simulated wounds, students got a head start on the essential skills they need to become the dentists, nurses, and doctors of tomorrow.
For more information about Mission CISD, please visit their website at: https://www.mcisd.net/ or contact them 956-323-5559. You can also contact the College 1st Program at 1-877-499-8544.