Empathy, listening, comforting, answering questions, attention to detail, prioritizing critical needs, learning something new, gathering information, summarizing data, and report writing—these are just a few of the essential skills that health care professionals use every day. Last month, students from Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School (LVA) had the opportunity to explore these skills firsthand during their visit to Lehigh Valley Health Network Hecktown Oaks as part of the Health Care Career Pathways program.
This engaging experience introduced students to a wide range of health care careers, with insights from a panel of subject matter experts. Students heard from Joann Coryell (Neurodiagnostics), Kristen Focht Pichola, Psy.D. (Neuropsychology), Rhonda Thomas (Pharmacy), Ann Merkel (Physician Assistant), and Joseph Pinto (Administration & Leadership). Through these discussions, students gained valuable knowledge about various medical fields and the professionals who dedicate their lives to patient care.
One student shared, “I enjoyed the different variety of professionals we were able to speak with, especially with the panel with the physician assistant, pharmacist, neurophysiologist, and neuropsychologist.” Another reflected on the hands-on experience, saying, “I really enjoyed touring the hospital and learning about the individual details of every different role in the hospital.”
Beyond the panel discussion, students had the opportunity to tour the LVH-Hecktown Oaks campus, connecting with LVHN colleagues in PACU, Emergency Department, Imaging (Jenise T.), and Med-Evac (Bryan Evans, MBA, FP-C, CMTE). They explored medical imaging technology, surgical suites, and emergency response operations, witnessing the teamwork and expertise that keep hospitals running efficiently.
A particularly exciting part of the visit included learning about anatomy using cutting-edge computer software. One student remarked, “…looking at the liver, heart, and lungs in the computer.” Another student expressed admiration for the structured yet compassionate nature of the medical field, stating, “I enjoyed learning all the roles and information about different doctors that I didn’t even know existed, and I loved that everyone had a purpose.”
Programs like Health Care Career Pathways are instrumental in shaping the next generation of medical professionals by increasing awareness and inspiring students to consider careers in health care. Thank you to Jeanne Reilly, M.Ed., Jennifer Boyer, and Joseph Pinto for their dedication to Youth Programming and Pipeline Programming, ensuring students have opportunities to explore their futures in meaningful ways.
LVA’s visit to LVH-Hecktown Oaks was an invaluable experience, fostering curiosity and career exploration while demonstrating the real-world impact of health care professionals. We look forward to seeing how these students apply their newfound knowledge and inspiration in the future!
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS 