Mini Medical School Created for AVID

Each year, a number of students across the schools rise above their peers in search of excellence skills and opportunities that will place them on track towards a career, and some as early as the 7th grade.

As a result of a joint partnership opportunity with Dignity Health Northridge Hospital and the Northridge Family Practice Center, fifty four  7^th and 8^th grade students that are Explorer Scouts and in an AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program of 145 students from Northridge Middle School were given a hands on experience for an afternoon fulfilling their dreams of actually utilizing state of the art medical instruments, sonography and x-ray, seeing an actual ultrasound and looking at a real baby, taking a blood pressure, learn how to ace bandage a sprain and learn organ identification. Several physicians and staff volunteers were on hand for volunteer training to guide and inspire them as well as educate them on health and preventative care.

According to Colleen Warnesky, Psy.D., Coordinator of Behavioral Health at Northridge Family Medicine, "the purpose of the Mini-Medical School on April 13^th was to offer an experience to the AVID learners at Northridge Middle School and expose them to the profession of medicine and hopefully encourage them to become interested in the field as a possible career choice. We also hoped that having this experience with our residents would de-stigmatize the experience of going to see their doctor and encourage the children to make healthy choices and care for their bodies." Colleen went on to add, "Northridge Family Medicine is the first business in the greater Los Angeles area who has offered a hands-on experience to students to learn about a career in healthcare. We hope to make this an annual event.”