Ascension St. Vincent’s recently brought a hands-on health care experience for students at Ponte Vedra High School.
Doctors and other medical professionals turned the school’s auditorium into an “operating room.” Students were able to try out the latest in robotic surgical technology, including the da Vinci 5, which is the newest surgical robot by Intuitive.
This program is part of Operation HERO, an initiative by the health system to get more young minds interested in careers in health care.
“As doctors, we take care of our patients,” said Dr. Martin Martino, gynecological oncologist for Ascension St. Vincent’s. “But we’ve got to train the future pipeline, and this is where it starts. It starts in elementary school, high school and along that journey.”
This is the second year that students at the school were able to take part in this experience.
“I think bringing it to the school and letting students try it hands-on makes them realize all the possibilities in the medical field and sets them on the path to get there,” said Matthew Jones, a graduating senior at Ponte Vedra High School.
Ascension St. Vincent's also invites students from St. Paul’s Catholic School to its Riverside campus for similar programs.
