Local Youth Spend Summer Learning About Veterans And Health Care

September 03, 2021
Student Carrington Golson performs an ultrasound on a mannequin during a field trip to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine’s Simulation & Interactive Learning Center and Ultrasound Institute
Click for more images

Summer is typically a time for students to take a break from their studies and relax, but for a few teenagers across South Carolina, it provided an opportunity to learn more about Veterans and health care.

Recently, 32 South Carolina youth wrapped up their summer with a recognition ceremony held at the Fort Jackson NCO Club. The recognition ceremony was the finale to the Columbia VA Health Care System’s (HCS) Summer Student Program.

Unlike past summer program sessions that were done completely in-person, this year’s program was a hybrid virtual and in-person collaboration.

“This year’s program allowed us to expand our program into locations that we previously were not able to,” said Vicki Johnson, voluntary service officer at the Columbia VA HCS. “Being able to include youth from the Florence and Rock Hill VA clinics helped us shine the light on potential careers in health care for kids in those areas.”

Over the course of the summer the youth, ages 13-17, learned about robotic surgery and utilized the robot simulator by picking up rings and placing them on objects; received hands-on use of medical equipment such as an ultrasound machine during a field trip to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine’s Simulation & Interactive Learning Center and Ultrasound Institute; received first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training and became CPR certified for adults, children, and infants; and learned from a variety of professionals during career day about multiple health care and non-health care related careers to include a drone simulation.

Before the career day, first-time Summer Student Program participant Ali Wallam had never considered a career in drones.

“The highlight of the summer program was learning about a career in drones,” said Wallam. “The instructor taught us the basics about drone operation, told us how the laws and regulations concerning drones are always changing, and he even brought in a drone simulator for us to test out.”

“I enjoyed this program and look forward to coming back next year.”

About the Columbia VA HCS:

The Columbia VA Health Care System comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics located throughout South Carolina in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter; serving more than 84,000 veterans annually in 36 of 46 counties in South Carolina. The Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VAMC is a level 1B teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology, education, and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine, and rehabilitation.