Oswego Health held its annual MASH Camp, offering area students an inside look at careers in healthcare through fun, hands-on activities in various Oswego Hospital departments.
The 19 participating students from Oswego County and beyond learned how to suture from members of the hospital’s surgery center staff, as well as how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). “Our staff looks forward to sharing their skills every year as part of MASH Camp,” said Oswego Hospital Chief of Nursing Valerie Favata. “Each department develops unique activities that we hope spark an interest in these eighth and ninth graders to pursue a career in healthcare.”
Among the rotations were basic first aid skills, a pharmacy compounding activity and a visit from a Life Net of New York helicopter rescue crew, which landed at SUNY Oswego. During each rotation, staff members explained their job duties and the education their position requires.
Emma Weaver, of Fulton, said she liked best the first aid and pharmacy rotations, where the students used candy in a compounding activity. “They helped you learn what is actually going on,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fred LeBlanc, of Oswego, said he too, liked the first aid session, as well as suturing. “It was about what I want to be when I grow up, which is to be a surgeon.”
Kara Janczyk, of Baldwinsville, whose daughter, Kate, participated, said she was impressed with the camp, as it provided an opportunity to explore career options. “It was a fantastic experience for her,” Janczyk said. “She sat me down after the first day, explaining everything they did from the first thing in the morning until camp ended at 4 p.m.. She told me that it was the fastest day ever, that she had a fantastic time and was looking forward to coming back the second day.”
MASH Camp is offered every summer by Oswego Health. The camp is coordinated by the Central New York Area Health Education Center (CNYAHEC). Providing funding for this year’s camp was the Menter Ambulance Service and Oswego Health Emergency Department Physician Michael Boyle, MD.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—August 8, 2016—photo caption
Oswego Health Offers MASH Camp to 8th and 9th Graders
Among the rotations at this year’s Oswego Health MASH Camp was a visit by a helicopter rescue crew from Life Net of New York. The crew, based in Seneca Falls, landed at SUNY Oswego, and shared their job duties and the educational requirements with the students. Pictured with the students is Oswego Health’s Dawn Smith, a MASH Camp coordinator, with Brian Laird, flight paramedic; Paul Jardine, flight paramedic; and Dale Lindgren, pilot.