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New camp aimed at getting teens interested in health care careers opens July 12 at SUNY Upstate

SYRACUSE, N.Y— High school students from across Central New York will get an indepth look at a variety of health care careers during SUNY Upstate Medical University's first-ever MedQuest Health Careers Exploration Camp, to be held July 12 to 16.

During the residential camp, students will participate in nearly 44 hours of programing, including lectures and hands-on experiences, such as suturing, creating leg casts and examining their own blood. They'll also view a surgery demonstration, get a behind-the-scenes look at an emergency room and undergo electrocardiogram testing.

While the program seeks to encourage students to pursue college and provide them with an early feel for academic life, its most important goal is to expose teen agers to career opportunities in medicine.

"Careers in the medical field make up some of today's most in-demand jobs. Nurses and a wide range of other medical positions are begging for qualified applicants," said the program's coordinator, James Vossler, assistant dean of SUNY Upstate's College of Health Professions. "This type of experience, one that offers young people an early awareness of medical careers can make a world of difference in their future, and it can provide a small step to helping meet the shortage of health care workers."

During the course of the program, participants will live in residence halls on the Syracuse University campus and attend classes and activities at SUNY Upstate, the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Crouse Hospital. Social activities also have been planned.

Twenty students were selected for the inaugural class. Enrollment was based on a student's academic performance, interest in science and medicine, an essay and recommendations from teachers. Tuition for the camp is $150.

To help support programming costs, funding for the camp is being provided by the Central New York Area Health Education Center.

Editor's Note: There are good photo opportunities throughout the week. They include: stress and EKG testing, 2603 University Hospital (Monday, July 12, 7:30 to 8 p.m.) sonogram demonstration, Crouse Hospital (Tuesday, July 13, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) leg cast making clinic, 200 Madison Irving Physician Office Building (Tuesday, July 13, 3 to 4:30 p.m.) trauma transport technique overview with Rural Metro, Silverman Hall parking lot (Wednesday, July 14, 6 to 7 p.m.); radiation therapy mask-making, Silverman Hall (Thursday, July, 15, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.) preparing and examing blood smears, 2158 Weiskotten Hall (Friday, July 16, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.)

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