MHS students get jumpstart on medical careers

Students from the HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) Club at Maricopa High School held a health fair Tuesday, showcasing various local and area healthcare providers and spotlighting the club itself.
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HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. Promoting career opportunities in the health care industry and enhancing the delivery of quality health care to all people are the goals of the club. Michelle Martinez is the HOSA advisor at MHS.

Members are juniors and seniors enrolled in the Medical Assistant program at the high school. They intend to go into the medical field to become nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians, coders and transcriptionists, or other related occupations.

At MHS the Medical Assistant Program is offered By CAVIT (Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology). CAVIT works in partnership with eight area high schools where 11th and 12th grade students can begin preparing for in-demand jobs while still attending high school. Students can then enter the workforce after graduation or further their education at a community college or university. Other area programs offered are cosmetology, fire science, law enforcement, massage therapy, nursing assistant and veterinary assistant.

At MHS, with state-of-the-art equipment and a simulated doctor’s office, CAVIT students, under the direction of MHS instructor Yvette Gash, become comfortable in a clinical environment.. The program offers students the training needed to assist physicians both in the clinical area and in the administrative setting as an insurance specialist or as a medical office receptionist or manager.

MHS senior Princess Dickson explained that the first year of the medical assistant program is primarily front office training in appointment scheduling, reception and forms. During the second year students are trained in back office duties, including taking temperatures, doing blood pressure readings and drawing blood.

“I want to be an RN, and I’ll have a real jumpstart on that when I graduate this year,” said Dickson.

To become part of the Medical Assistant Program, a student must have an interest in medical-related career training, a B grade or higher in science, two English credits and a good attendance record.

The program is designed to be completed in two years, which will essentially count for a year of college credit toward a two-year associate’s degree. Once that degree is obtained at the college level, students can sit for the national exam to become certified as a medical assistant.

“I love the medical assistant program. I plan to be a pediatrician, and this is a real start for my medical career,” said HOSA club member Audrey VanScyoc.

Photo by Joyce Hollis