BMH Medical Explorers Do Well at National Expo

Members of BMH Medical Explorer Post 222 joined students from around the nation for the Second Annual National Health Careers Exploring Exposition sponsored by Learning for Life. The Expo was held from July 30 - August 3 at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD.

The 4 day exposition was filled with prestigious keynote speakers and hands-on learning opportunities. Skilled health care professionals from Nursing, Medical Laboratory, Pharmacy, Allopathic & Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry, and Emergency Medical Services presented the students with information about those fields. Participants also attended Team Building, Study Skills, and Financial Aid seminars to help prepare them for success in their academic endeavors. The kids were also treated to exciting outings to Washington, DC, and fun-filled evening parties. Six members of Post 222 and three chaperones attended this national event, and returned with a couple of trophies for their efforts.
A Medical Challenge Bowl Competition was held at the conclusion of the exposition, with teams from every post pairing off to answer questions about what they learned during the previous three days. Post 222 did very well in the competition against Medical Explorer Posts from across the United States. Post 222's team, which took home the trophy for third place, was comprised of Dunkirk High School students Katie Abramowicz (Captain), Jenn Enser, and Jill Reading, and Nick Pchelka from Pine Valley Central School. In addition Dunkirk students Vanessa Ricotta and Shay Neal accepted Post 222's trophy for third place in the Poster Competition. The Health Careers Exploring Exposition concluded with a “Mardi Gras Madness” banquet on the last evening of the event.

Over the past school year, Post 222 members have been exploring various health related careers through tours, speakers, and hands-on activities. The kids also conducted several fund-raisers to make the trip to Bethesda possible. The Brooks Memorial Hospital family of employees was instrumental in helping Post 222 raise a significant portion of the $5,000 they needed for this trip. In addition, several local sponsors chipped in to help Post 222 achieve their goal. Contributions from the Brooks Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, Chautauqua Radiology, a Kids First Mini-Grant from the Chautauqua Community Foundation, and funding from the WNY Rural Area Health Education Center (WNY R-AHEC) was instrumental in helping Post 222 get to Bethesda.

 

Post 222 proudly displays the trophies won in the Medical Challenge Bowl Competition and the Poster Contest.
(Kneeling L-R) Katie Abramowicz, Vanessa Ricotta & Shay Neal. (Standing L-R) Jim Enser (Chaperone),
Marianne Gehen (Co-Advisor), Jennifer Enser, Jill Reading, Desiree Coon (Co-Advisor), & Nick Pchelka.