Now in its eighth year, the Health-Careers Exploration Summer Institute (HESI) — led by science educators Sara Dixon of Fortuna High School and Alicia Mengel of Eureka High School, and sponsored by the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) — continues to provide local high school students with a hands-on introduction to the health care field.

Students from nine area high schools participated in this free, three-week program, which included nine days of clinical rotations at Redwood Memorial Hospital, Eureka and Fortuna Open Door Community Health Centers and the Burre Dental Center.

Each day, students were paired with professional preceptors in various departments such as Radiology, Ambulatory Infusion, Laboratory/Phlebotomy, Short Stay, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Obstetrics/Childbirth Center, Medical-Surgical Unit, Progressive Care Unit (PCU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Respiratory Therapy, Operating Room (OR), Diagnostic Imaging, and the Emergency Department.

Beyond clinical observation, students participated in field trips to the Northern California Community Blood Bank and Cal-Ore Life Flight. Guest speakers from various health care disciplines also shared insights into their professions.

Students also learned two types of suturing techniques and earned certification in “Stop the Bleed,” a national program that empowers individuals to respond to bleeding emergencies before professional help arrives.

The program culminated in a Final Presentations Ceremony held on July 3. Students reflected on their experiences through personalized presentations, discussing their expectations going into the program, how those expectations were met, the health care careers they were initially interested in, their most memorable moments, and individuals they especially enjoyed learning from.

“This year, we had an unprecedented 86 applications for the HESI program,” said co-coordinator Megan Freitas. “You won’t find a program like this — free of cost and with this level of access — anywhere else in a rural area. HESI gives students a chance to truly envision themselves working in health care. They learn directly from professionals how to reach their desired careers and are introduced to a wide range of attainable health care roles they may have never known existed. Not only do the students and instructors look forward to this program every year, but the staff at Providence and Open Door get excited to welcome them back as well.”

For more information about the HESI program, contact Megan Freitas at mfreitas@hcoe.org or 707-445-7563.