MASH camp

This week 19 middle school students finished up MASH Camp at Community General Hospital. They learned CPR, got to put casts on one another’s arms, and saw what it’s like to operate operating room equipment (see the photo, at left).

MASH stands for the Medical Academy of Science and Health, and Community runs this special program for junior high school students each year during February break week. I got a chance to visit with the future nurses, doctors, pharmacists, technicians and therapists as they ate lunch.

I talked about how Community got started, and I showed them a brick from the old General Hospital of Greater Syracuse. (That’s where the “general” comes from in Community General Hospital). I talked about the role of government in health care, and I showed them a flag that flew over the nation’s capital, a gift from Congressman Jim Walsh.

Health careers offer youngsters a great future with many options – but they need a good education. That’s one of the messages of MASH Camp: stay in school and do well in math and science.

The other message? Ten or 15 years from now, knock on Community’s door when you’re looking for a great place to work!

To see the MASH campers, check out Mike Price’s spot from this week’s WSYR-TV newscast (click on “Good News: Hospital Mash Camp 2.20.08”).