6-29-12

MADISON, FL — North Florida Community College welcomed 15 6th-9th grade students to its campus June 18-21 for Health Scholars Camp 2012. Funded by Big Bend Area Health Education Center (AHEC), North Florida Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Network and NFCC Allied Health Programs, the camp explored healthcare, fitness, nutrition, science and related careers.

The NFCC Allied Health department showed off its nursing labs and patient simulators. The simulators manifest a wide range of vital signs, clinical signs and symptoms and provided a great learning opportunity for the young students. Campers ventured off campus for tours and presentations at Lake Park of Madison nursing home, Madison Dental Associates and Madison Veterinary Clinic. They also learned about tobacco awareness from AHEC representative Preston Mathews, received first aid certification through NFCC Community Education, participated in a disability awareness activity presented by NFCC Allied Health Advisor Debbie Bass, learned about fire safety with Madison County Fire and Rescue and enjoyed presentations by Mac Leggett of NFCC Emergency Medical Services.

NFCC Fitness Coordinator Tyler Coody and the Junior Auxiliary of Madison County led physical fitness workouts for the campers and NFCC Biology Instructor Dr. Greg Molnar worked in some interesting science experiments and projects during the four-day camp. Philip Wilkerson, North Florida Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Network Director, helped coordinate the camp and spoke to the young students about possible careers in healthcare.

“The camp counselors worked really hard to make this Health Scholars Camp a highly rewarding experience for our campers,” said Wilkerson. “The students were interested and very appreciative of the exposure to healthcare careers. Hopefully this experience will help influence a child to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare.”

Leading Health Scholars 2012 were Camp Counselor and LPN Wendy Silvernell along with Dana Anderson and Anderlyn Ellison, RN students at NFCC. Students participating in the camp were from Madison and Suwannee counties.

For more information on NFCC’s Allied Health programs (Patient Care Technician, Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing), contact Debbie Bass at (850) 973-1662 or bassd@nfcc.edu. For more information on the North Florida Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Network, contact Philip Wilkerson at (850) 973-1665 or email wilkersonp@nfcc.edu. The Network serves a six-county area (Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor) and is organized to facilitate healthcare recruitment and training of local residents to increase healthcare access and foster economic development in a rural, high-unemployment area.

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PHOTO 1: Health Scholars Camp 2012 participants are:

Front Row: Nicholas Johnson, Kenzie Riegel, Katie Mays, Brandon Horne

Second Row: Corey Brandies, Donteria Ingram (long hair), Merritt Medders, Jaclyn Graves

Third Row: Joycelynn Ford (blue striped shirt),Elexxis Davis (red jacket) , Bethany Greenwood

Back Row: Cody Davis, Kyeyona Edwards, Ashton Pickles, Faith Siplin

PHOTO 2: Jaclyn Graves holds an infant patient simulator while exploring training and career opportunities in healthcare at NFCC’s Health Scholars Camp 2012.

PHOTO 3: Corey Brandies and Nicholas Johnson learn about the science of nursing in NFCC’s Allied Health Nursing Lab during Health Scholars Camp 2012.