TRAVERSE CITY — Northwest Education Services Career Tech has won the Engaging Instruction category in the Excellence in Practice awards from the Michigan Department of Education for its Health Sciences program.
The Health Sciences program covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, patient care and healthcare delivery systems. 162 students are participating this year in the Health Sciences program, which is open to high school juniors and seniors from throughout North Ed’s five-county region.
The program will be recognized during a special awards ceremony on Jan. 27 during the 2025 Michigan Career Education Conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.
Through agreements with Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and Grand Valley State University, students can earn college-level credits while in high school to get a jumpstart toward completing an associate or bachelor’s degree.
With the opportunity to earn multiple certifications, some students leave the program upon graduation and immediately enter the workforce as Certified Clinical Medical Assistants or Pharmacy Technicians.
“Through hands-on training, clinical rotations and industry certifications, our Health Sciences students are well prepared for a future career in health care,” Assistant Superintendent of Career and Technical Education at North Ed Pat Lamb said. “Michigan needs high-quality health care professionals, and our students are gaining foundational skills that will enable them to be successful in a variety of positions.”
The program is elevated due to its partnership with Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire & Rescue Authority which allows students to receive Basic Life Support certification, which is CPR training specific to health care workers. Other certifications include OSHA 10, Dementia Training, Stop the Bleed and National Consortium for Health Science Education standards certifications.
All first-year students participate in a job shadow at Munson Medical Center. Some students return to Munson during their senior year to conduct clinicals while other classmates may participate in co-ops with other local health care professionals.
In partnership with students in Career Tech’s Early Education program, Health Sciences students also operate a Teddy Bear Clinic for area kindergarteners each year.
The young students visit Career Tech with a stuffed animal for part of the day, and their furry friends are put through various mock medical procedures to show the kindergarteners that healthcare appointments don’t have to be an intimidating process.
The event gives older students a chance to demonstrate the training they’ve received through Career Tech, while also learning how to interact with children to build soft skills. The program has produced positive results by improving younger children’s experiences with local health care.
HOSA, or Future Health Professionals (formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America), is another opportunity for students to demonstrate their medical knowledge while developing skills like leadership, teamwork, planning and problem-solving.
Students also participate in on-campus blood drives at Career Tech, gaining practical skills in blood donation, processing and testing, while other experiences like field trips, tours of NMC’s nursing program and a visit from Central Michigan University’s Mobile Health Central serve to enrich students’ learning.
The program’s advisory board is made up of healthcare professionals, industry leaders and community representatives who guide the program’s direction and provide students with work-based learning experiences in real-world settings.
The curriculum integrates NCHSE standards with Common Core English Language Arts standards, creating a comprehensive experience that prepares students for both academic and career success.
The program’s curriculum integrates NCHSE standards with Common Core English Language Arts standards, creating a comprehensive experience that prepares students for both academic and career success.
Career Tech offers 22 state-approved CTE programs to high school juniors and seniors from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. Students are educated in career and technical fields, offering hands-on practical experiences, job shadowing, career exploration and early college opportunities, along with rigorous academic integration.
For more information about North Ed Career Tech, click here.