This February, students from Morgantown’s Ross Medical Education Center campus had the opportunity to take an educational field trip. They were able to visit local Mon Health System’s Health Fair. This is an annual opportunity for individuals to participate in health screenings, get an overall picture of their health, and learn what steps they need to take to create a healthy lifestyle. Many of the hospital’s departments and physicians had exhibits at the Health Fair where visitors can stop by and have their questions answered while learning about the healthcare services available right in their own backyard.
During their time at the hospital’s event, Ross students walked through a colon and even dissected a pig heart! Alyx Neese, current student in the Ross Medical Assistant program, spun the big trivia wheel and answered questions about calorie counts. Jessica Cyphers, Assistant Campus Director of Education, said that she found the event educational and a lot of fun. “The students loved the heart dissection,” shared Jessica. “They understood what they were seeing and enjoyed sharing their knowledge with newer students.”
In addition to offering a variety of interesting and educational opportunities at their Health Fair, Mon Health System is also a major employer in the Morgantown area. Many students took advantage of this excellent opportunity to network with future supervisors and to build a rapport with employees. Student Lyndsee Bane said, “I enjoyed meeting the employees, especially those from the pediatric department. That is definitely somewhere I want to work after I graduate.” It was a great way to continue preparing for a career as a Medical Assistant.
While at the Health Fair, students completed a scavenger hunt designed by Rebecca Keener, Medical Assistant Instructor. Attendees had to travel to each site to gather information that would prove important to completing a written assignment upon returning to the campus. “The scavenger hunt kept the students motivated and on task, so that the trip was an integral part of the classroom experience,” said Ms. Keener. “We’ve been to this Health Fair in prior years, but this one was by far the best!” Her students definitely recommend the activity to other students.