The Future of Health Care Starts at Med High

Hunaid Rana, Barbara Heater and Victoria Valdes

Med High principal Barbara Heater stands outside the high school in Mercedes with Hunaid Rana (left) and Victoria Valdes, both students at Med High.

Mercedes, Texas – The highpitched buzz of a bell prompts a crowd to spill into the hallway.

The teens shuffling to their next classes do not face just another lecture. They are minutes away from practicing their nursing skills on lifesize medical mannequins lying in hospital beds just feet away from the students' desks. It is all part of the daytoday life at Med High.

The South Texas High School for Health Care Professions, better known as "Med High," may be tucked away in the small town of Mercedes, but there are big expectations for its students. Med High, modeled after the DeBakey High School for Health Professions (DHSHP) in Houston, helps prepare students for careers in the medical field. Like DHSHP, Med High combines a challenging academic curriculum with instruction in technical skills and the opportunity to work with medical professionals in the community.

Pipeline for the future

"The school works as a pipeline to give the students of South Texas opportunities to access careers in medicine and the health professions, and to help transition them into higher education," said Dr. William A. Thomson, director of Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Educational Outreach. "This school is in a location where students might not otherwise have that exposure. Many students not only go on to medical and health professions schools, but also return to practice medicine in the Rio Grande Valley, which is one of the goals of Med High."

There have been 13 BCM medical school graduates from Med High; another 15 Med High students are enrolled at BCM.

How It Began

Med High is located in the South Texas Independent School District, which was established in the early 1960s to serve students with special needs. As the region's population grew, other school districts in South Texas took on part of those challenges, and the Texas Legislature authorized the district to offer magnet programs. Because of the healthcare needs in the region, a high school for medical and health careers was the top priority.

In 1983, BCM began its longstanding partnership with the South Texas ISD and Med High.

"We initially helped design their facilities and curriculum, and helped them to define their staffing and support needs. Since then the program has grown and excelled," Thomson said.

In 1994, BCM and The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) jointly created the Premedical Honors College (PHC) in Edinburg, Texas. Students are selected during their high school senior year to be a part of the PHC and attend UT Pan American. At that time, they receive conditional acceptance to BCM. Med High students are geared toward this program, but the program is also open to all South Texas high school seniors.

"The hope of these programs is that students will return to South Texas, a medically underserved area, after they complete their medical training," Thomson added.

Med High Today

What makes Med High stand out from other high schools is its academic standards. The school has none of the traditional extracurricular activities, such as sports and music. Instead, students take more science, mathematics and health science technology courses, which include clinical experiences in health care facilities in the region. The school also uses Advanced Placement (AP) tests as a benchmark, rather than the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test.

"It may be challenging for the students, but we don't lower our expectations. We raise our level of support," said Barbara Heater, the principal at Med High.

Students are assessed regularly to help teachers focus on areas in which students need the most work, and to identify content to add to their class curriculum.

"Our teachers are creative and giving of their time," Heater said. "They want to know, 'Is extra tutoring needed? Will online resources help?' In fact, all our staff members are supportive. It's not unusual to see a counselor, administrator or secretary right there with the teachers helping the students."

The classrooms at Med High are not your average desk and chalkboard. There are labs galore—dental, nursing and even veterinary. These resources enable students to develop handson technical skills.

Field trips to local health care facilities are offered throughout the four years of high school. During their senior year, students take part in clinical rotations that allow them to spend time working in hospitals, doctors' offices, veterinary clinics, dentists' offices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers or pharmacies as part of their class curriculum.

"Our students are well prepared to be in this type of environment, and they are accompanied by a teacher," Heater said. "We ask the medical professional with whom they are working to review the students' abilities as well."

That helps the student and also shows teachers what new skills should be taught in their classroom lessons.

Seniors can become certified nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants or emergency technicians.

"We tell the student, this is not the end of your education but a means to go further with it," said Heater.

Just as the medical field continues to grow, so do the number of courses at Med High.

"We base our offerings on what students want. Every year, things may change a bit. This year, for the first time, we've had kids ask for an optometry course. We are working hard to make sure we can offer that class next year," Heater said.

Students at Med High

Senior Hunaid Rana, whose two older siblings Saifullah Nasir and Mahwish Nasir, attended Med High and now attend BCM, said the opportunities are his favorite parts of the high school experience.

"It can be difficult. Right now I have several AP classes, but I know this will help with the transition to college," he said. "The classes here prepare you for the course load."

Rana has been accepted into a premed program and through that, he has earned conditional acceptance to medical school at UT Medical Branch in Galveston.

Rana also said the outside experience through clinical rotations has helped him decide to become a physician.

"Through Med High, I worked at two pharmacies, where I have had great experience actually working with patients," Rana said. "Everything we do is for a purpose, so the time we put into high school benefits us in the end."

A wall in entrance hallway at Med High holds the honors received by the school during its existence.

Med High is not just for future doctors. Sophomore Victoria Valdes isn't 100 percent sure she wants to go to medical school.

"I started here thinking I wanted to be a surgeon. Then I took so many new and different classes. At one time, I wanted to pursue medical journalism, and now I'm learning about forensic science," she said. "Med High really gives me a chance to be exposed to a wide range of experiences."

Valdes will still take part in the senior year clinical rotations, even though her focus has changed.

"The rotations will allow me to work with a wide group of people, and even if I stick with forensic science, all the medical background I'm learning will help with that career choice," she said. "Med High really teaches you to be a creative thinker and lets you get your feet wet in a lot of different courses."

Everyone molds student's future

The school is open to any student who can maintain passing grades and who lives in the three most southern counties of Texas. Geographically, that makes the district the largest in the country, covering about 3,000 square miles in Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties.

Students are bused in from throughout the region, and for some, travel time can be up to an hour each way. Heater said that is why even the bus drivers play a role in the students' well being.

"Not only do they give the students a safe way to make the commute to school, they see the students in a different environment outside the classroom," she said. "Sometimes our drivers will notice that a student is down or acting differently, and they will let us know. That way, if there is a problem, we can help before it gets out of control."

Some Med High teachers are former and current medical professionals. For example, there are nurses, a respiratory therapist and even a military veteran. Their varied skills and experiences provide important lessons to the students. Three Med High graduates even have returned to teach at the school they feel was responsible for their own success.

The majority of Med High graduates move on to higher education with some working in medical professions and others achieving nonmedical degrees.

Med High outside the Valley

The reach of Med High extends beyond the classroom. One doctor said the lessons learned in south Texas affect her even today.

"One of the most important things we do for kids is to have high expectations for every student."
– Barbara Heater
Principal, Med High

Dr. Melissa Ochoa-Perez, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM, graduated from Med High in 1994. She went through the PHC program at UTPA and graduated from BCM in 2003.

"Med High will always be my first stepping stone to becoming a child psychiatrist," she said. "I learned from an early age what good mentoring and dedicated teachers can do. I think about that often and strive to do my part, especially when encouraging underrepresented minorities."

Ochoa left her home school and joined Med High because she knew she wanted to pursue a degree in medicine. The exposure Med High gave her helped her in her college years.

Med High students with a mannequin used in class

The mannequin plays an important role in the education of students at Med High. From left: Nidia Saenz, Principal Heater, Hunaid Rana, Lariza C. Cortez and Michael Peña Saenz.

"I remember feeling that some classes, like anatomy and physiology, were easier in college because it felt like it was more of a review," she said. "Med High exposed the students to a lot of medical concepts and classes similar to what we faced in college."

For those just finishing a medical degree, the sentiments are the same. Dr. David Berger graduated from BCM in 2010.

"Right now, I'm heading to Chicago for my internship, but I would love to go back to the Valley," Berger said. "I learned so much there. That community gave me a great opportunity, and I would love to return the favor."

During his time at BCM, Berger said he was reminded of how Med High had prepared him.

"The work at Med High was difficult, and I knew my friends at other schools had more free time. Once I was in college and then in medical school, it was obvious that I was prepared. Not just the material, but also transitioning to the course load required of us," he said. "Med High was an environment conducive to learning, and I am thankful for that time."

Future

"The fact that we consistently have visitors from outofstate districts reviewing our school curriculum and wanting to see how our school functions on a daytoday basis means we are continuing to head in the right direction," said Heater. "People always ask me what the secret to our success is, and I always answer, 'the students'."

"One of the most important things we do for kids is to have high expectations for every student," she said. "We challenge them, prepare them for college. Even if they don't pursue medicine, we have prepared them to become successful—no matter what career they pursue."

Pipeline for the future

How It Began

Med High Today

Students at Med High

Everyone molds student's future

Med High outside the Valley

Future

Features

News

Spotlight

Briefs

Development/Alumni

Development Briefs

Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010


	The Future of Health Care Starts at Med High by Graciela Gutierrez Med High principal Barbara Heater stands outside the high school in Mercedes with Hunaid Rana (left) and Victoria Valdes, both students at Med High. Mercedes, Texas – The highpitched buzz of a bell prompts a crowd to spill into the hallway. The teens shuffling to their next classes do not face just another lecture. They are minutes away from practicing their nursing skills on lifesize medical mannequins lying in hospital beds just feet away from the students' desks. It is all part of the daytoday life at Med High. The South Texas High School for Health Care Professions, better known as "Med High," may be tucked away in the small town of Mercedes, but there are big expectations for its students. Med High, modeled after the DeBakey High School for Health Professions (DHSHP) in Houston, helps prepare students for careers in the medical field. Like DHSHP, Med High combines a challenging academic curriculum with instruction in technical skills and the opportunity to work with medical professionals in the community. Pipeline for the future "The school works as a pipeline to give the students of South Texas opportunities to access careers in medicine and the health professions, and to help transition them into higher education," said Dr. William A. Thomson, director of Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Educational Outreach. "This school is in a location where students might not otherwise have that exposure. Many students not only go on to medical and health professions schools, but also return to practice medicine in the Rio Grande Valley, which is one of the goals of Med High." There have been 13 BCM medical school graduates from Med High; another 15 Med High students are enrolled at BCM. How It Began Med High is located in the South Texas Independent School District, which was established in the early 1960s to serve students with special needs. As the region's population grew, other school districts in South Texas took on part of those challenges, and the Texas Legislature authorized the district to offer magnet programs. Because of the healthcare needs in the region, a high school for medical and health careers was the top priority. "The school works as a pipeline to give the students of South Texas opportunities to access careers in medicine and the health professions, and to help transition them into higher education." – Dr. William A. Thomson Director, Center for Educational Outreach at BCM In 1983, BCM began its longstanding partnership with the South Texas ISD and Med High. "We initially helped design their facilities and curriculum, and helped them to define their staffing and support needs. Since then the program has grown and excelled," Thomson said. In 1994, BCM and The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) jointly created the Premedical Honors College (PHC) in Edinburg, Texas. Students are selected during their high school senior year to be a part of the PHC and attend UT Pan American. At that time, they receive conditional acceptance to BCM. Med High students are geared toward this program, but the program is also open to all South Texas high school seniors. "The hope of these programs is that students will return to South Texas, a medically underserved area, after they complete their medical training," Thomson added. Med High Today What makes Med High stand out from other high schools is its academic standards. The school has none of the traditional extracurricular activities, such as sports and music. Instead, students take more science, mathematics and health science technology courses, which include clinical experiences in health care facilities in the region. The school also uses Advanced Placement (AP) tests as a benchmark, rather than the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. "It may be challenging for the students, but we don't lower our expectations. We raise our level of support," said Barbara Heater, the principal at Med High. Students are assessed regularly to help teachers focus on areas in which students need the most work, and to identify content to add to their class curriculum. "Our teachers are creative and giving of their time," Heater said. "They want to know, 'Is extra tutoring needed? Will online resources help?' In fact, all our staff members are supportive. It's not unusual to see a counselor, administrator or secretary right there with the teachers helping the students." The classrooms at Med High are not your average desk and chalkboard. There are labs galore—dental, nursing and even veterinary. These resources enable students to develop handson technical skills. Field trips to local health care facilities are offered throughout the four years of high school. During their senior year, students take part in clinical rotations that allow them to spend time working in hospitals, doctors' offices, veterinary clinics, dentists' offices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers or pharmacies as part of their class curriculum. "Our students are well prepared to be in this type of environment, and they are accompanied by a teacher," Heater said. "We ask the medical professional with whom they are working to review the students' abilities as well." That helps the student and also shows teachers what new skills should be taught in their classroom lessons. Seniors can become certified nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants or emergency technicians. "We tell the student, this is not the end of your education but a means to go further with it," said Heater. Just as the medical field continues to grow, so do the number of courses at Med High. "We base our offerings on what students want. Every year, things may change a bit. This year, for the first time, we've had kids ask for an optometry course. We are working hard to make sure we can offer that class next year," Heater said. Students at Med High Senior Hunaid Rana, whose two older siblings Saifullah Nasir and Mahwish Nasir, attended Med High and now attend BCM, said the opportunities are his favorite parts of the high school experience. "It can be difficult. Right now I have several AP classes, but I know this will help with the transition to college," he said. "The classes here prepare you for the course load." Rana has been accepted into a premed program and through that, he has earned conditional acceptance to medical school at UT Medical Branch in Galveston. Rana also said the outside experience through clinical rotations has helped him decide to become a physician. "Through Med High, I worked at two pharmacies, where I have had great experience actually working with patients," Rana said. "Everything we do is for a purpose, so the time we put into high school benefits us in the end." A wall in entrance hallway at Med High holds the honors received by the school during its existence. Med High is not just for future doctors. Sophomore Victoria Valdes isn't 100 percent sure she wants to go to medical school. "I started here thinking I wanted to be a surgeon. Then I took so many new and different classes. At one time, I wanted to pursue medical journalism, and now I'm learning about forensic science," she said. "Med High really gives me a chance to be exposed to a wide range of experiences." Valdes will still take part in the senior year clinical rotations, even though her focus has changed. "The rotations will allow me to work with a wide group of people, and even if I stick with forensic science, all the medical background I'm learning will help with that career choice," she said. "Med High really teaches you to be a creative thinker and lets you get your feet wet in a lot of different courses." Everyone molds student's future The school is open to any student who can maintain passing grades and who lives in the three most southern counties of Texas. Geographically, that makes the district the largest in the country, covering about 3,000 square miles in Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties. Students are bused in from throughout the region, and for some, travel time can be up to an hour each way. Heater said that is why even the bus drivers play a role in the students' well being. "Not only do they give the students a safe way to make the commute to school, they see the students in a different environment outside the classroom," she said. "Sometimes our drivers will notice that a student is down or acting differently, and they will let us know. That way, if there is a problem, we can help before it gets out of control." Some Med High teachers are former and current medical professionals. For example, there are nurses, a respiratory therapist and even a military veteran. Their varied skills and experiences provide important lessons to the students. Three Med High graduates even have returned to teach at the school they feel was responsible for their own success. The majority of Med High graduates move on to higher education with some working in medical professions and others achieving nonmedical degrees. Med High outside the Valley The reach of Med High extends beyond the classroom. One doctor said the lessons learned in south Texas affect her even today. "One of the most important things we do for kids is to have high expectations for every student." – Barbara Heater Principal, Med High Dr. Melissa Ochoa-Perez, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM, graduated from Med High in 1994. She went through the PHC program at UTPA and graduated from BCM in 2003. "Med High will always be my first stepping stone to becoming a child psychiatrist," she said. "I learned from an early age what good mentoring and dedicated teachers can do. I think about that often and strive to do my part, especially when encouraging underrepresented minorities." Ochoa left her home school and joined Med High because she knew she wanted to pursue a degree in medicine. The exposure Med High gave her helped her in her college years. The mannequin plays an important role in the education of students at Med High. From left: Nidia Saenz, Principal Heater, Hunaid Rana, Lariza C. Cortez and Michael Peña Saenz. "I remember feeling that some classes, like anatomy and physiology, were easier in college because it felt like it was more of a review," she said. "Med High exposed the students to a lot of medical concepts and classes similar to what we faced in college." For those just finishing a medical degree, the sentiments are the same. Dr. David Berger graduated from BCM in 2010. "Right now, I'm heading to Chicago for my internship, but I would love to go back to the Valley," Berger said. "I learned so much there. That community gave me a great opportunity, and I would love to return the favor." During his time at BCM, Berger said he was reminded of how Med High had prepared him. "The work at Med High was difficult, and I knew my friends at other schools had more free time. Once I was in college and then in medical school, it was obvious that I was prepared. Not just the material, but also transitioning to the course load required of us," he said. "Med High was an environment conducive to learning, and I am thankful for that time." Future "The fact that we consistently have visitors from outofstate districts reviewing our school curriculum and wanting to see how our school functions on a daytoday basis means we are continuing to head in the right direction," said Heater. "People always ask me what the secret to our success is, and I always answer, 'the students'." "One of the most important things we do for kids is to have high expectations for every student," she said. "We challenge them, prepare them for college. Even if they don't pursue medicine, we have prepared them to become successful—no matter what career they pursue."		Search all issues: Features The Future of Health Care Starts at Med High Emergency Medicine: The Art of Juggling A Quarter Century of Invention at Baylor College of Medicine "Passport" Gives Childhood Cancer Survivors Entry into Adult Healthcare Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center Educates Through Entertainment Getting to the Roots of Cancer News Dr. Paul Klotman: BCM's New Top Man Dan Duncan Leaves Solid Foundation for BCM's Research Future DeBakey Library & Museum Showcases Innovations of Pioneering Heart Surgeon Spotlight 1,000 Chances for New Life BIPAI Doctor Seeks to Serve in Africa Space Medicine Takes Medical Education Across New Frontiers Quest for a Gene Opens New Door in Personalized Medicine Briefs Out of This World Science Experiment Generates International Interest Out of Africa Predicting the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease Pool to Receive Academic Clinical Professionalism Award The Pea Aphid and the Wasp Genome Development/Alumni Dr. Wheeler Donates Royalties Believe in BCM Campaign Engages Campus Development Briefs National Osteoporosis Foundation Honors Lawrences DeBakey Heart Center of BCM Benefits from Partnership Event Pink Ribbon House Project Celebrates Success Awards and Honor Wall Highlight Alumni Reunion 2010 The Road Ahead Promises Continued Success

	Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010



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