WSU holds healthcare simulation for students

A healthcare simulation was held at Westfield State University this morning, giving high school students a look into different careers in the professional world. 20 News reporter Nick Antonakis joins us live in studio now with details on that presentation. Kaylee, more than 140 high school students from across the region were at Westfield State this morning watching a full-blown timeline of a pickleball injury. Students observed everything from the initial injury to on-site athletic trainer care, eventual surgery and even the physical therapy and recovery process leading to the patient being back on the court. Students were then taken on a tour of campus and had the opportunity to speak with faculty about the different programs the school offers in the medical field. This opportunity was more than a chance for students to get hands-on experience in a potential path of study, but also a chance for professionals to get a taste of teaching the future of the medical workforce. To Emily Sissicolo, the opportunity means everything. When I was in high school, I feel like I missed out on a lot of these opportunities because I wasn't really sure that a lot of them existed. There's so many different places and things you can do in healthcare that a lot of people just don't know about. So it's all about exposing people to these careers and pathways because if we don't expose them, they'll never know. All different aspects of the field were covered, including nursing, emergency medical services, athletic training and much more. There was also an event tonight at Westfield State, a poverty exercise that will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Working for you, Nick Antonakis, 22 News.