Students learn about health care at Little Falls Hospital

Twenty area junior high school students had the opportunity to learn what life is like working at Little Falls Hospital this week.
M.A.S.H. Camp, or the Medical Academy of Science and Health, is about learning what health professionals do each day by participating in activities that highlight their job duties. Campers spent two days in the real world of hospital health care learning about a variety of health professions as viable career options, as well as the educational requirements, skills, job duties and personal qualities of specific health professionals and para-professionals. Campers were also able to work with the equipment, technology and resources used in a health care setting.
“We were able to visit the morgue which is something people often do not get a chance to do,” said Channelle Blyth of St. Johnsville Central School. “Camp is a good experience for anyone interested in health care or science and I am glad I checked it out.”
“I participated in camp last year and had so much fun that I decided to apply for it again,” said Christina Fingerlow of Herkimer Central School.
Fingerlow wants to earn a doctorate in physical therapy and was happy that she was able to spend time in the rehabilitation department.
“But seeing the other professions is also interesting,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity to learn about a lot of different careers.”
Little Falls Hospital cosponsored its second annual M.A.S.H. Camp with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the Central New York Area Health Education Center (CNYAHEC), allowing eighth and ninth-grade students to consider career opportunities they might not otherwise be aware of.
“M.A.S.H. Camp is as a unique opportunity for our local young people to spend time working with dedicated health professionals who are excited to share their knowledge and experiences with them,” said Kate Reese, director of community relations and development for the hospital.
“I would recommend it to other students even if they do not have an interest in health care,” said Maisie Orsillo of Fort Plain Central School.
While Orsillo would like to pursue a career in medical research, she acknowledged that she might have found another profession she might want to try her hand at. “Anesthesiology was fun,” she said. “I didn’t realize all the things that anesthesiologists do until today.”
“I’m glad I signed up,” said Kaylyn Woodrick of Herkimer Central School. “Physical therapy was really cool, but I liked everything that we did. It was fun. We were able to put casts on each other. That’s something I would have never been able to do unless I came to M.A.S.H. Camp.”