By Elva Taher
Photo by Elva Taher
What do crime scenes, operating rooms, and research labs have in common? They all depend on biomedical science, a course that is taught at this very school and that introduces students to hands-on learning and careers in medicine and healthcare that students may not have thought of before.
Yes, among all the other programs offered, our school has various courses that can set students up for a career in the field of biomedical science. You can graduate with an area of concentration in biomedical science.
“This class offers me the opportunity to get students to participate and be hands-on,” PBS teacher Britney Burrows said.
So, what exactly is biomedical science? Well, it goes beyond traditional biology by giving students hands-on learning opportunities and case-based lessons. Instead of only reading from a text book, students investigate diseases, study human body systems, and analyze real medical scenarios. These activities help students understand how science is applied in healthcare, forensics, and medical research. This class encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and the problem-solving skills essential in the medical field.
“I love the teacher and how hands-on the class is,” freshman Biomed student Sofia Partesotti stated. “It’s very different from any other science class I’ve taken.”
Really, our biomed students take “hands-on” to a different level. For them, it’s not just cutting and gluing. It’s learning how the human body works and how diseases are diagnosed and treated.
“In the future I want to do something in the medical field, so I thought this class would be good to learn the basics,” freshman Biomed student Maggie Franz stated.
For example, this year’s PBS class did a heart dissection to get a closer look inside the bodies and really see what they’re learning about.
“The most interesting lab was definitely the heart dissection,” Partesotti said. “It really opened my eyes into how complex humans and hearts are.”
This class covers so much information that it can’t be contained in just one class, so it doesn’t end after one year like many other classes. Our biomedical science program lasts through all four years of high school if you choose to see it through.
“I am planning to continue in the future to continue my medical track and finish out all four years of the course,” freshman Evie Miller stated.
But of course, all good must come with some challenges. There are moments when teaching this class can be difficult, much like the real medical world.
“I think the biggest challenge is always getting students to take risks when they are learning,” Burrows said. “Sometimes we do goofy things in class like pretend to be a doctor and patient or analyze a fake crime scene. Those moments require that students be willing to suspend their disbelief and go with it.”
Whether you see it through all four years or only do one year, students learn so much they can use in future careers in this program.
And as Ms. Burrows says, “Learning is hard and messy, but the mistakes you make during the process is how you learn!”
