Camp Med students learn how to do CPR on a mannequin with the guidance of a registered nurse.

Ashe Memorial Hospital to host annual Camp Med Summer Program in June

JEFFERSON, N.C. - Ashe Memorial Hospital will hold its 2023 Camp Med Summer Program June 5-9.

The camp is open to students in grades 9-12 and is designed to provide them with valuable insight into the healthcare field. Students will be exposed to the various aspects of medicine and potential career opportunities available to them should they decide to pursue a career in healthcare.

Over the course of the weeklong camp, students will participate in a variety of events and activities, including CPR, aquatic therapy, job shadowing experiences, and dissection, among other team building skills. This year, students also will have the opportunity to travel to the Wake Forest Center for Experimental and Applied Learning, which supports immersive hands-on training for medical students and clinical professionals. In addition, students will have the opportunity to interact with community partners, such as Ashe Medics and Highlands Emergency Air & Rescue Transport, among others, to learn more about their respective careers and the services they provide. A complete schedule of events and activities will be provided as we get closer to Camp Med.

"Camp Med is a wonderful opportunity for local students to begin to explore if a career in the medical field might be right for them, said Angel Gouge, education manager for Ashe Memorial Hospital. "It gives them a better understanding of multiple medical career paths, both inside and outside of the hospital setting. They get to learn and experience through direct observation, hands-on training, group discussions and key speaker presentations. They also become aware of the patient experience and all the teamwork that is involved in patient care. We are fortunate to even have returning students each year who have enjoyed their learning experience so much, they want to learn more."

Through the Camp Med Summer Program, students are able to engage in discussions, gain valuable knowledge and skills and network with healthcare professionals in the hopes of discovering whether or not they may want to pursue a career in the healthcare field in the future.

The application process for the 2023 Camp Med Summer Program is now underway. For more information or to request an application, please contact Jen Blanco, marketing and public relations manager for Ashe Memorial Hospital at jennifer.blanco@ashememorial.org or visit ashememorial.org.

The Camp Med Summer Program is an annual weeklong experience provided by the Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wake Forest School of Medicine and part of the NC AHEC System. The camp is open to all high school students and is designed particularly for those who have an interest in a career in the health sciences.

About Ashe Memorial Hospital

For more than 80 years, Ashe Memorial Hospital's dedicated team of board certified physicians, nurses and staff members have provided the highest quality medical care available to the people of Ashe County and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Ashe Memorial Hospital offers a wide variety of emergency, elective, rehabilitation and preventative health services.

Founded in 1941, Ashe Memorial Hospital is a fully accredited 25 bed critical hospital located in Jefferson, N.C. For more information, please visit ashememorial.org or call 336-846-7101.