Recognizing the importance of continually developing highly skilled healthcare professionals, the Medical Associates Clinic Foundation of Dubuque has provided $150,000 in funding to Dubuque’s three high schools to help further prepare students interested in pursuing education and careers in the field. Hempstead High School, Senior High School and Wahlert High School will each receive $50,000 in total over the next three years to support programming in science and health coursework.

“We believe providing students with high-quality science and health programming in high school is an important investment in our future healthcare leaders,” said John Tallent, chief executive officer of Medical Associates Clinic and Health Plans. “This gift will be instrumental in enhancing the program at each of our high schools and we are confident it will inspire and prepare students in Dubuque to pursue careers in the medical field.”

For Senior High School and Hempstead High School, funds will be used to support the district’s anatomy and physiology course as well as the health-related courses in the career technical education (CTE) curriculum. The CTE health curriculum prepares students for medically related fields and can fulfill the requirements needed to take the state Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) exam and become licensed. The health curriculum also offers pre-requisite courses needed for the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) nursing program and is beneficial to students planning to enroll in a nursing program at a four-year college or university. CTE health curriculum is open to any public-school, private-school or home-school student living in the Dubuque Community School District. All of the courses supported by this grant are specifically designed to show students a pathway to work in medically related fields.

“We have seen time and time again that our science and CTE health curriculum gives students a head start as they enter the medical field or go on to college-level healthcare programs,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “This grant will enhance our offerings even further and will only create better-prepared professionals – many of whom will continue to live and work right here in the tri-states.”

Over 940 CTE health courses have been taken in the Dubuque Community School District since the 2006-2007 school year. Funds will purchase technology tools such as tablets and software for use in class as well as high-tech medical mannequins used for nursing and anatomy coursework. The Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools, which helped initiate and secure funding, will distribute the funds to Hempstead and Senior.

At Wahlert Catholic High School, funds will be used to support the implementation of the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences program, a four-year curriculum that provides an in-depth study of human body systems, medical interventions and biomedical innovation. The grant will be used to purchase equipment and lab supplies required for the course such as DNA models, DNA electrophoresis, EKG and blood pressure probes and hand-held wireless Lab Quest2 computer interfaces, as well as required instructor training.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Medical Associates Foundation as we implement Project Lead the Way’s Biomedical Sciences program, one of just three in the state of Iowa,” said Carol Trueg, chief administrator of Holy Family Catholic Schools. “This rigorous, hands-on curriculum gives those students who are interested in careers in health care a better understanding of what is required—and possible—while helping all students become creative problem solvers. We thank the Medical Associates Clinic Foundation of Dubuque for their generosity and their partnership with us.”

This is the first year that Introduction to Biomedical Sciences has been offered, with 18 students enrolled in the class. The grant funds will also support additional courses in human body systems, medical interventions and biomedical innovations which are planned for the next three years.

For more information, contact the DCSD School and Community Relations Office at (563)552-3020.

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