Students in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club at the Laurel County Schools Center for Innovation (CFI) took the initiative in the month of October to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.
Students participated in a pumpkin painting activity to bring awareness to cancer. The month of October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Students had to learn about the disease, screening methods, incidence rates, and risk factors. Students also learned about treatment protocols based on current medical practices.
CFI Allied Health Science students take courses in Principles of Health Science, including understanding basic anatomy and physiology. Students learn how to collect vital signs, understand wellness and various disease conditions. In addition, students take courses in medical terminology to understand the language of healthcare and emergency procedures to be able to provide triage assessment and interventional care.
In the third year of the program, students specialize in one of four pathways, Medicaid Nurse Aide, Patient Care Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, or Pharmacy Technician, and become eligible for clinical practicum and/or work-based learning experiences. Allied Health Science students may sit for industry-recognized college and career-ready credentials.
"We have various outreach programs annually such as Substance Use Disorder, Violence Prevention, Alzheimer's Disease, and Heart Disease Awareness projects,” remarked Dr. James M. Davis, CFI Principal. “Our students are the future healthcare providers and leaders, and they wanted to launch an initiative to promote wellness screenings and increase awareness of Breast Cancer,” added Davis.