Good morning!
I am excited to share that Rachel Childs, M.S, MLS(ASCP)CM, Carlee N. Demeter, MHS, MLS (ASCP)CM PathACM, Deborah A. Krzyzaniak, M.S., S.C.T.(ASCP)CM, and Joshua Manshala, MS, and myself were able to host the first NextPo To Go at EVMS by joining forces with our colleagues at Old Dominion University. We put on a great event for the Juniors of the Maury High School Medical & Health Specialties Program. After starting with the "Who's Who in the Medical Lab" introduction and the "PPE Race" icebreaker, students were led in four unique hands-on experiences reflecting the roles of the Medical Laboratory Scientist, Pathologists' Assistant, Cytologist, and Histotechnologist. It was a lot of fun for students and the NextPo Team alike! At the end, we sent students home with little swag bags, including ASCP printouts about careers in lab medicine.
It was a rewarding day for all involved and the Maury High MHSP Program Director has already asked if we will do it again next year. The whole NextPo To Go team is looking forward to it! Best of all, when I asked the students to raise their hands if after this program they were honestly thinking about a career in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, so many hands went up that I was shocked. Their teachers even gave me some hand-written reflections that students gave about the event and it has filled my heart to overflowing.
Here are a couple of pictures from the day. If you haven't thought about doing a NextPo To Go, please do. I am happy to share more about my experience and answer any questions you may have, so please don't hesitate to reach out. It takes a little (not a lot) of work to get it going, but once you have your team and activities, doing it a second time is easy-peasy. The feeling you get from putting on this event? Priceless! The impact you may have on the lives of these students? Immeasurable!
Stronger together,
Kerwin
Childs, M.S, MLS(ASCP)
------------------------------
Kerwin Kolheffer MS, PA(ASCP)CM
ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals
Associate Professor | Educational Coordinator
EVMS Pathologists' Assistant Program
Norfolk, VA
------------------------------