ThisWeek News: High School Seniors Enhance Education on Pickerington Medical Campus
Funding science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs is important – just ask the five Pickerington high school seniors that partnered with OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus for the past two years in an education and innovation endeavor.
The students took classes at the medical campus, which gave them the opportunity to observe professional 
medical settings and interact with physicians. Additionally, as part of Pickerington High School Central and Pickerington High School North’s STEM program, the group devised models and concepts for enhancing emergency rooms and emergency medical services responses to accidents and threatening incidents.
Last month, this group had the opportunity to present their project to members of the U.S. Congress and discuss how STEM education in public schools has benefitted them. The group recently spoke to ThisWeek News reporter Nate Ellis about their project and experience in Washington D.C.
They received the invitation for designing a circular emergency room, which they said would improve efficiencies – reducing congestion in hallways and ensuring patients were moved forward in an orderly fashion to each new level 
of emergency treatment. In addition, the students proposed drones, equipped with an automated external defibrillator, first aid kit and two-way communication element, as emergency first responders.
Federal lawmakers considering education funding heard about these ideas and invited the students to come to Capitol Hill and share their project. It was part of a conference for educators and government leaders to hold conversations about best practices for preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce and global challenges.
Each of the Pickerington students said STEM has enhanced their education and has helped steer them toward pursuing a career in the medical field.
To learn more about the Pickerington student’s project and presentation, click on the ThisWeek News logo.
