At Sacred Heart ER, few things are more rewarding than opening our doors to students who dream of a future in medicine. We recently welcomed a group of local high school and college students for an immersive, hands-on day in the Emergency Department — and it was one none of us will soon forget.
Coordinated by Dr. Mark Im, the day was anything but a sit-and-listen lecture. Over four hours, students rotated through interactive skill stations, getting their hands on real equipment and learning directly from the people who use it every day.
Medicine Is a Team Sport
One message we hoped students would carry home is that an Emergency Department runs on far more than its physicians. Doctors, nurses, X-ray technologists, ER technicians, front desk staff, and administrators all came together to make this event happen — and each shared a piece of what they do. When a patient’s life is on the line, it’s the coordination between all of these roles that makes good outcomes possible.
Seven Stations, One Simulation
Working in small pairs, students moved through seven hands-on stations — CPR, airway management, suturing, EKG reading, bedside ultrasound, X-ray interpretation, and IV access & blood draw — with our physician and staff circulating to coach along the way. They practiced chest compressions on a manikin, held an ultrasound probe and watched the heart come to life on screen, placed their own sutures, and got to know the color-coded world of laboratory tubes.
The afternoon closed with a guided emergency simulation, where students worked as a team to think through a patient scenario from start to finish — pulling together everything they had learned.
A Day to Remember
The energy in the room was wonderful. Students leaned in with curiosity, asked great questions, and grew more confident with every turn. To every student who joined us: thank you for your enthusiasm. And to our entire Sacred Heart ER team: thank you for giving your time and heart to guide these young people along their journey.
Sacred Heart ER is proud to support students as they explore a future in medicine — and we look forward to hosting many more days like this one.
Want the full story, station by station? Visit our Student Mentorship page. Interested in a future student event? Reach out to our team to learn more.