Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences, IU School of Medicine team up for high school summer camp

Purdue and Indiana universities are offering a summer camp for high school students interested in learning more about health care careers and majors offered through Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences. During the camp, students can participate in medical simulations, as demonstrated by Adam Pagryzinski (far left), a second-year student at the IU School of Medicine-West Lafayette. (Photo provided) Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue and Indiana universities are partnering for a new summer camp for high school seniors and juniors interested in health care related majors and careers.

"Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and students will be able to explore majors and health care opportunities they may not be aware of," said Christine Ladisch, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

CAMP, Clinical Applications for future Medical Professionals, is July 25-27 at Purdue and will allow students to experience health sciences and medical school projects such as heart dissections, medical simulations and exercise assessments. Cost is $200, which includes lodging and food. More information and registration is available online. The camp will be offered by Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences in partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – West Lafayette, which is housed in Purdue's Lyle-Porter Hall.

The camp will introduce high school students to a variety of undergraduate majors that can prepare students for medical or professional school. Those majors include nutrition and dietetics, public health, athletic training, medical laboratory sciences, psychological sciences and health sciences preprofessional. The camp also will highlight how these health care professions work together.

"One example of interprofessional health care would be a team comprised of a dietitian, exercise physiologist, nurse, speech-language pathologist, medical laboratory scientist and physician working to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate a patient with a traumatic brain injury," said John Gipson, recruitment coordinator for the College of Health and Human Sciences. "Another example would be a team of physicians, nurses and public health professionals working together to treat a patient with an illness, and to prevent any communicable diseases from spreading."

The Indiana University School of Medicine – West Lafayette is a regional campus of the IU School of Medicine. IU has had medical students on Purdue's campus since 1968.

"CAMP is the latest new partnership that develops a culture of cooperation in promoting the patient-centered combination of excellent clinical skills and compassionate interpersonal care that we all hope to find in our future health care providers," said Dr. Regina K. Kreisle, interim associate dean of the IU School of Medicine and interim director of the IU School of Medicine-West Lafayette. 

Supplies for students are being provided by the North Central Indiana Area Health Education Center. 

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Sources: Christine Ladisch, ladischc@purdue.edu

John Gipson, gipsonj@purdue.edu 

Jayne R. Rayman, outreach and communications specialist, 765-496-1190, jrrayman@purdue.edu