Thirty high school students spent a week on the NYITCOM and A-State medical school’s Jonesboro campus participating in a program called Project H.E.A.R.T. The four-day, three-night camp allows rising high school juniors and seniors to spend time on the campus to learn about career opportunities in healthcare and enjoy hands-on activities that give them a taste of medical school.
The program is completely free for the students, and NYITCOM at A-State medical students serve as counselors for the event.
Participants learn about a day in the life of a medical student, hear about the undergraduate admissions process, and engage in activities that include a pig heart dissection in the NYITCOM anatomy lab. Students were also introduced to several medical procedures, including placing IVs on medical mannequins and learning about phlebotomy techniques.
Additionally, participants heard from a variety of healthcare professionals - including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and medical technicians - to learn about various roles within healthcare fields. A majority of the students are from Arkansas with representatives from Jonesboro, Paragould, Little Rock, Hazen, Monticello, Marked Tree, Magnolia, Bentonville, Forrest City, and many more.
Project H.E.A.R.T. is one of several programs NYITCOM at A-State operates through its pipeline initiative, which is intended to encourage students to pursue medical school or other healthcare fields.
Since its inception, over 400 students have participated in Project H.E.A.R.T., and many of its graduates have gone on to attend medical school or pursue careers in nursing, physical therapy, and health education.
Pictured here, Jianna Reynolds (left), an El Dorado High School student, and Jayden James of Rogers High School learn to about phlebotomy techniques using a medical task trainer. Reynolds and James were among the 30 high school students who participated in NYITCOM at A-State's "Project H.E.A.R.T." program in Jonesboro.