School Presentations 

The Health Careers team offers classroom visits to any school located within our seventeen-county service region. From a single class period to a full day, we provide students with information about health careers and engage them in interactive, hands-on activities. 

During these school presentations, a member of our Health Careers division will visit your classroom to share information about the various high school and undergraduate program opportunities available to your students, as well as more details about AHEC, and then begin the activity.

To schedule a school visit, please contact:

Kellie Jones, Lead Health Careers Coordinator at kellie.jones@st-claire.org
Hannah Little, Health Careers Coordinator at hannah.little@st-claire.org
Lakyn Newcomb, Health Careers Coordinator at lakyn.newcomb@st-claire.org

The activities we can bring to your classroom include:

Suturing: 

Students will learn and practice basic suturing techniques used in various medical procedures on a suture pad that mimics the texture of real skin.

Epidemic Simulation: 

 In this activity, students will gain an understanding of the spread of diseases and participate in a classroom simulation that highlights how easily pathogens can spread through a community. They will identify who is affected by the epidemic and try to determine the original "carrier."

Dissection:  

Students can explore basic anatomy through various dissection options, including frogs, pig hearts, and cow eyes. We will provide all necessary instruments, aprons, gloves, and dissection trays. Please note that availability may be limited, and advance scheduling is required.

Transfusion Matching:  

In this activity, students will learn the importance of matching blood types as they role-play clinical blood technicians in a hospital emergency room, tasked with determining the correct blood type to save the life of an accident victim.

DNA Necklace:

Students will collect a cell sample from their cheeks to create a DNA necklace. After exposure to a solution containing ethanol, strands of their DNA will become visible in clear plastic tubes that can be worn as necklaces.

Jeopardy:  

This engaging activity enables students to learn and assess their knowledge across various branches of health science, including anatomy and physiology, body systems, chemistry, and biology. Additional subjects can be added upon the teacher’s request.

Venipuncture & TB Skin Test:  

Students will observe venous blood draws and the insertion of IV catheters. They will practice visualizing and palpating areas for precise venipuncture. After successfully accessing a vein, students will draw back artificial blood circulating through a simulated venous system. This activity includes practicing needle insertion for procedures such as a TB skin test.

Extracting Strawberry DNA: 

In this activity, students will learn how easily DNA can be extracted and visualized from strawberries using everyday chemicals, illustrating that every living organism contains DNA.

Protect That Pill:  

This bioengineering activity allows students to reinforce their understanding of the digestive system by developing a pill coating that can withstand the stomach's churning actions and acidic environment. Teams will test the durability of their coatings using a clear soda to simulate stomach acid.