Calhoun Students' Interest In Health Care Sparked

Students in Christine Boyce’s science class at Calhoun High School recently participated in the North Shore-LIJ SPARK! Challenge.

The students were matched with a facility and shadowed people from various fields for the day. The visit to Glen Cove Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit was an opportunity to gain knowledge about various aspects of health care. They had hands-on experience in recreation therapy and speech pathology, along with physical and occupational therapy.

“Students come away from the challenge with a new respect and empathy for patients that suffer a brain injury,” Boyce said. “They learned firsthand from real health care professionals what life is like to work with patients. Students were also given information about each of the therapy components in terms of career choice.”

Nearly 500 students from across Long Island will take part in the program. After their visit, Calhoun students will create a video to show what they learned with the assistance of a mentor from North Shore-LIJ.

“The health care professionals were very forthcoming and excited to tell students about their personal experiences as students had many questions,” Boyce said.

First photo: Olivia Sturiano, Hadi Aziz, Samantha Hernandez, Ali Nabi, Kyle Pilotti, Matthew Rappapprt, Peter Romero, Michaela O’Connor, Caitlyn Perrone and nurse coordinator Alexis Alexander were part of the North Shore-LIJ SPARK! Challenge.

Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.