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Rosalyn Jack, student, assists Connie Major, administrative assistant at the Wound Care Clinic of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Rosalyn Jack can tell you exactly what she'll be doing in 10 years — helping people through her work in the medical field. Now, at 17, this sounds like a student who seems to have a pretty clear plan for the future. But, for Jack, she's been working toward this goal since she was five years old.

Jack, a student at St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, it taking her first significant steps toward her goal this summer as she volunteers six hours a week at the Wound Care Clinic of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Each student at the parochial high school is required to log a certain number of community service hours prior to graduation. However, in Jack's case, these volunteer hours serve a dual purpose. Jack is enrolled in the Health Careers course offered by the school.

The program has been around for about seven or eight years and has produced dozens of medical professionals, including doctors, physical therapists and nurses, according to Amy Breaux, health careers instructor.

A former healthcare professinal, Breaux teaches accelerated science at St. Louis and found a great number of students doing quite well in their studies who had interests in the medical field. Several in the program have family members already in the field and have grown up in its surroundings. However, the program allows the students a more intense exposure to all areas of medicine.

Jack's desire to help others is in her genes. Her mother, a nurse's aid working in the Home Health field, used to sometimes take Jack along on her visits. It was at her mother's side, Jack first saw how important the care and compassion of health care workers could effect a patient's recovery.

"I want to go into the medical field just to help people. I've wanted to do this since I was younger. I like making people smile," Jack said.

So, Jack entered the program with the intent and desire to make it in the medical profession. She's interested in nursing or pharmacy and the St. Louis program will allow her the opportunity to a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into each career choice.

Breaux said St. Louis High School fashioned its program as an interpretation of a similar one in California. That program introduced the medical profession through class instruction as early as middle school and allowed students to follow that channel of learning through graduation. The California program also produced several medical professionals who discovered as young teens their drive and desire to help others through medicine.

The program at St. Louis High School is for seniors only and works directly with Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Students are required to perform 30 hours of volunteer work during the summer prior to their senior year to be admitted into the program. This work is done in the hospital.

"This shows their level of commitment," Breaux said. "They don't get a grade for the time, but proves to me and to themselves they can be accountable."

Although the volunteer work is conducted at the hospital and its clinics, students generally perform general help for the staff. However, a sense of drive and focus are apparent.

"I am very impressed with how hard these students work and how committed they are," said Sunne Duhon, RN with the Wound Care Clinic. "We have several students with us this summer — all with so much else going on and they stay so focused on what they want."

At the end of the summer, students will have a general knowledge of the hospital, its functions, and departments and an understanding of what people do there, Breaux said.

The fall semester consists of class work and tours of the hospital and clinics. General areas such as cardiovascular, infectious disease and cancer are reviewed so students have a basic understanding of each condition. For a more hands-on approach, students become CPR certified and learn vital signs checked by all RNs.

During the spring, students will shadow medical professionals to get a one-on-one experience. While in the past, most students opted to shadow doctors, nurses and therapists, Breaux said many are finding interest in other medical fields, such as Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Dermatology, etc.

"I would say over half of the students in the program tell me they want to be doctors. These students have to really want it — the years of study and work — they need to have that drive and most of them do," Breaux said.

Students attending public schools also have the opportunity to explore a medical career while still in high school. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital also works with the Calcasieu Parish School Board on a similar health occupations career program. This three-year training program allows high school students to become familiar with medical terminology, observe various specialties, such as pharmacy, physical therapy and dietary/nutritional services. During their senior year, the students can work on nursing units as a nursing assistant. At the end of this curriculum, these students become certified nursing assistants and are qualified to be hired by any healthcare agency.

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