Froedtert, School District of New Berlin Celebrate First Summer Health Care Academy

Celebrating a successful completion of the first Froedtert Moorland Reserve Health Care Academy, School District of New Berlin Eisenhower and West students showcased their learning and personal growth Sept. 11 to parents, school staff, and Froedtert staff.

Ten seniors were selected following an application and interview process to spend two weeks over their summer at the New Berlin Moorland Reserve Health Center. They were assigned rotations through various departments and mentored by practitioners and administrators at the health center. Daniel Burghardt, science teacher and HOSA advisor, coordinated the program on behalf of the district.

During the showcase, students highlighted how the opportunity left a lasting impact and how it helped inform their academic and career plan, by either confirming or ruling out specific careers in the healthcare field. Additionally, students cited how this experience allowed them a hands-on mentorship experience that provided both breadth and depth to what they learned in their high school coursework.

Students saw first-hand the dispositions and employability skills needed to thrive in the healthcare field. As Teresa Sundararajan, New Berlin West student, said, “I was fortunate enough to learn life-long skills in the healthcare field in addition to learning about specialized careers.”

Other students cited the need for quick problem-solving skills, empathy, and patience.

“No two patients were the same and each held their own personal and unique story,” West’s Hannah Sidesky said. “Each opportunity was unique and I learned something from it.

The rotation in the gastrointestinal lab watching colonoscopy procedures was clearly a favorite for nearly all the students as it was the first time they had seen such a procedure.

Both the SDNB and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin include mutually beneficial partnerships in their strategic goals and mission.

“Academic medicine and community partnerships are ingrained in the Mission, Vision and Values of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin,” said Melissa Kerhin, Community Engagement, Froedtert & MCW. “The Healthcare Career Academy gives our organization an opportunity to put that into action. Our Moorland Reserve Health Center staff was honored to work with these 10 students to expand their knowledge about a wide variety of healthcare career options. These educational experiences are pivotal as the healthcare industry continues to grow so we can make a sustained difference in our community.”

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin has been an important partner of the district. Froedtert’s Community Memorial Hospital annually hosts a tour of their facilities for students interested in Healthcare careers. Earlier this year, the Medical College of WI also hosted students to provide a lens into what it would be like to attend medical school.

Following the student showcase, the Board of Education recognized the students along with Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin for their commitment to the program.