Loudoun Education Foundation partnered with Inova Loudoun Hospital, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and The Future Kings to host the second Building Learning Opportunities and Options in Medical Sciences Exploration Day at two middle schools Monday and Tuesday this week.
The event gives students from six middle schools across the county the opportunity to learn about different healthcare careers from Inova and LCFR professionals and try out medical tools and skills firsthand.
LCPS Director of Community Connections and Programs Renée Dawson said they started the event in 2022 and found that almost 80% of the students that attended indicated an interest in pursuing a healthcare profession afterward.
“It was really about providing early access to students in sixth grade about the possibilities of careers in health and medical sciences,” Dawson said. “… Maybe this is a spark that gets these students to think about the possibilities they can have in their career.”
The event took place at Seneca Ridge Middle School in Sterling Nov. 20. Students were welcomed by LCPS Superintendent Aaron Spence before being divided into groups that visited four stations. The first included presentations and a Q&A session by INOVA administrators, the second a stop in the Inova Health Bus where students learned about proper nutrition and healthy habits, the third a visit with members of LCFR where students were allowed to practice CPR and lastly a visit with The Future Kings where students experienced the science behind health and wellness through virtual reality.
More students will participate Nov. 21 at J.L. Simpson Middle School.
Loudoun County Public Schools sixth graders ask questions of Inova administrators after a presentation during a BLOOM event Nov. 20, 2023.
Sixth grader at Riverbend Middle School Steven Marin said getting to learn about CPR from fire and rescue was a new experience for him.
“It felt like something I’ve never seen before and like something people should get used to,” he said.
Gabriella Kettavong, who said she wants to be a doctor one day, agreed and said learning CPR was “hard but fun.”
She said fifth graders this year who might get the chance to attend BLOOM next year, should so they could learn about ways to help people.
Dawson said the event was made possible because of LEF’s partnership with Inova and through a grant that funded the event.
“This is happening because of Inova,” Dawson said. “The partnerships, people that are coming in, the inspiration behind the idea, all that, is Inova.”
Dawson said she hopes the program will continue next year as well.
