A select group of Jackson juniors and seniors spend their first two periods of the school day at various hospital areas of Aultman Hospital. The Aultman Academy Program is a great opportunity for students who are serious about a career in healthcare. It gives them a good deal of experience working with healthcare professionals, and provides a lot of educational value.
“On Mondays and Tuesdays speakers from around the hospital talk to us,” said Jackson senior Chelsea Cochrane. “They can be from anywhere. We've had NICU nurses, family liaisons, ER/trauma nurses, a forensic dentist, etc.”
“On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we are in clinical rotations where we are assigned to follow a preceptor in a specific department,” Jackson senior Anthony Lumpp said. “For example, I have been in social services, transitional care at Aultman Woodlawn, transport, volunteer services, laboratory, and orthopedic nursing. This is always the most exciting time where we get to see the most and ask the most questions.”
“The rotations I have been in are the emergency room/trauma, operating room, Aultman Woodlawn, family liaison in SICU/MICU, and I am currently in Radiation Therapy,” said Cochrane.
On Fridays, they have classroom instruction, led by Susan Gardner.
“I have the nicest group of students in this program,” Gardner said. “They are so inquisitive and insightful and just really nice people!”
Aultman Academy offers some uncommon and fascinating experiences to students as they shadow Aultman Hospital employees.
“I think the best thing I have been able to see at Aultman is a brain surgery,” said Cochrane. “The neurosurgeon was very nice and let me get close to the brain.”
The students involved agreed Aultman Academy is a valuable experience.
Lumpp said, “What I love best about Aultman is the opportunity to work with real healthcare professionals, and to be a firsthand witness to their day to day experiences.”
“Being in Aultman Academy has definitely helped me in writing essays for applications and scholarships. It gives you an advantage over other people wanting to be in the medical field.
One really good thing about it is that it is not very time committing which is nice when you are in hard classes at school,” said Cochrane.
“I really like being in this program,” said junior Taylor Knaus. “It is a great thing to be able to be in. I have learned so much doing it. It teaches you a lot about the different parts of the medical field. It really is a great opportunity if you are able to participate in it.”
“I feel that this program was the perfect opportunity for me to get a head start into my future career,” said Jackson senior Maddi Gesiotto. “The experiences are priceless.”
