SYLACAUGA — Eighteen Sylacauga youths have made Alabama history.The students participated in the first health care studies class in the state between the Sylacauga School System and Coosa Valley Medical Center.
It is the only class in the state for high school students to learn first-hand from health care workers at a hospital.
Last week, the first students from Sylacauga High School in health care studies graduated from the course at Coosa Valley Medical Center.
The students chose the name HOT for the class (Health Occupation Teens).
The health care studies class was approved in February 2005 to begin at the start of the 2005-2006 school year at Sylacauga High School. It is an elective open to juniors and seniors and is limited to 20 students per semester.
The first class had 18 students. The class that begins in January has 20, said Amy Price, vice president of CVMC.
Schools superintendent Jane Cobia said she is proud of the first class of its kind in the state and of the partnership between the school system and hospital.
Cobia said the system began to look at such a class in August 2004 with Glenn Sisk, hospital CEO and president; Amy Price, hospital vice president; Christie Caine, career tech and cooperative education coordinator; and herself.
"We knew there is a shortage of medical professionals and there was interest in health care fields by students at the high school.
"We asked the hospital what they could do. This health studies class came from that," Cobia said.
She went on to say the class is "fabulous. It is a different kind of class. We hope it meets the needs of our students and the community. It is a win-win situation for everybody."
The class was started at no cost to the school system. Price said the Sylacauga Health Care Authority, which owns the hospital, through its foundation, provided the start-up funding that included the purchase of lab coats and scrubs for the students to wear in the hospital setting.
Price said students in the class are exposed to all health care occupations at the hospital, running the range of medical professions.
Students attend class five days a week at the hospital for approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
The hospital’s leadership team teaches the students about the different areas of medical professions. The team is comprised of doctors, nurses, a pharmacist, a radiologist, auxiliary service personnel, a nurse practitioner and support service personnel.
Caine said teaching strategies include classroom instruction, clinical labs, project-based assignments, speakers from various specialties, group learning, peer tutoring, demonstrations and other learning.
The class provides students with essential knowledge and skills for entering the health care profession. Students will be allowed to explore careers and examine current issues regarding community health and wellbeing, she said.
The students must have demonstrated an interest in the health care field and maintained a 2.70 overall grade point average. Additional criteria include an application, an interview, attendance, disciplinary record and a teacher recommendation.
Price said most of the students in the class are going into medical fields. Of the ones taking the first class this semester, two decided the health care profession was not their choice.
She said one intent of the class is to allow the hospital to grow its own health care providers "so they can return home after they go to college" and work in health care in their community.
The second class starts Jan. 9 with 20 new students.
The students are responsible for transportation to and from the hospital.
Price said the reviews on the class from the students taking it this fall are "phenomenal. Their energy and spirit was amazing. They came up with a name for the class and have called it HOT. The hospital developed a logo for it."
Students participating in the first class were: Mary Beth Veazy, Shari Scott, Natalie Robinson, Lauren Medforth, Tori Wilder, Desiree McClellan, Amber Ellis, Ellen Sherrill, Tinsley Smallwood, Ashley Blocker, Caitlyn Wade, Krista Patterson, Marco Gamble, Brooke Carmack, Lindsay Jones, Molly Catchings, Allie Studdard and Candie Lambert.
