Kaiser Permanente Partners with Eastside High School’s Biomedical Science Academy and Antelope Valley College to Provide Annual Health Education Program

Lancaster, CA –Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley successfully collaborates with Eastside High School’s Biomedical Science Academy and Antelope Valley College to provide an innovative Healthcare Simulation Summer Lab Program for junior and senior high school students. This summer 23 students successfully completed the program where they had an unique opportunity to explore various healthcare roles through simulations and mentorship from healthcare professionals.

The Healthcare Simulation Lab Summer Program aims to encourage underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students by providing them with firsthand exposure to healthcare careers. The program is design to enable students to explore and understand the diverse career options within the healthcare field, potentially influencing their future educational and career paths.

Over the course of five three-hour sessions, the students are introduced to various healthcare roles, including nursing, radiology, pharmacy, social work, and more. They gained hands-on experience and interacted closely with healthcare professionals.

"As a physician volunteer, I am thrilled to welcome each year our bright, young minds to this innovative healthcare simulation lab summer program. This immersive experience is designed to ignite the passion for medicine of these students and enhance their critical thinking skills and provide a hands-on introduction to the world of healthcare, said Dr. Manish Desai, endocrinologist at Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley.

The summer program involved realistic healthcare scenarios using a high-fidelity mannequin known as Sim Anne. Students engaged in simulations ranging from emergency care at a motor vehicle accident scene to intensive care unit procedures and advanced cardiac life support.

"The most exciting thing I've learned is working with mannequins,” said Jessica Mejia, 12th Grade, Eastside High School. “I learned to put in an NG tube within a patient or mannequin. I also learn how different things work like blood transfusions, how to assess different issues with a patient and how you can potentially save a life."

"I enjoy observing the engagement and participation of these students in realistic medical emergency scenarios,” said Dr. Thinzar A. Htut, geriatrician at Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley. “I love how they work together as a team to help save a person's life. These participating students will gain invaluable insights and skills that will serve as a strong foundation, should they decide to pursue a career in the medicine."

Kaiser Permanente healthcare physicians and staff volunteer to mentor students, while Antelope Valley College provided the space and faculty for the simulations. America’s Job Center supported the program by coordinating student pay, job readiness training, and providing scrubs.

"I personally want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon”, said Katherine Galindo, 12th Grade, Eastside High School. “This program was insightful. I got to see how the health care community works together, like the registered nurses work with the doctors, they all work together to get things accomplished."

The students will conclude their training experience with a health care careers research project and presentation, with professionals acting as panelists to review and provide feedback. This amazing collaboration facilitated students with a unique and meaningful experience to explore future careers in medicine.

Participating Eastside High School’s students:

J’Raya Anderson, Vanessa Castillo, Kimberly Ceja Rodriguez, Christopher Contreras, Zoey Depaz, Katherine Galindo Hernandez, Brandon Galvan, Eliana Gonzales, Katelyn Horton, Milo Linares, Kaelyn McCaslin, Jessica Mejia, Hayley Morales, Alina Olmedo, Ebonie Pettie, Shy’la Richardson, Nicole Rodríguez, Manuel Ruvalcaba, Martha Ruvalcaba, Fernando Sanabria Mora, Ameera Saxton, Matthew Trujillo Ramirez, Diana Umana

About Kaiser Permanente 

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go toabout.kp.org. 

About Antelope Valley College

Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive two-year institution within the California Community

College system. Antelope Valley College boasts numerous degree and certificate programs,

and is one of only 15 community colleges in the system that can confer the baccalaureate degree. Among the comprehensive programs at the college is the Gold Star nursing program

within the health sciences division. AVC collaborates with multiple community health partners in

meeting the professional needs of those partners. We look forward to extending the reach of the

health care industry in meeting community professional health care needs.

About Antelope Valley Union High School District

Antelope Valley Union High School District serves nearly 22,000 students in the greater Antelope Valley region, including 8 comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools, a virtual academy serving 6th through 8th grades on two campuses as well as high school students, and two early college high schools. The Eastside High School Biomedical Science Academy, a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School, serves approximately 400 students cohorted in 9th-12th grades, offering courses in Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Biomedical Innovations, as well as Advanced Placement and Honors courses in other disciplines.