When you ask Mohawk Trail Regional High School student Noah Cunningham, 17, of Ashfield, what career he wants to pursue after graduation, without missing a beat he confidently replies, “surgeon.”
His confidence comes from experience gained through Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s student ambassador program, where local high school students are given the opportunity to shadow members of the hospital for a six-week period. From radiology and The Birthplace, to standing alongside a surgeon and being walked through medical procedures, students are given a chance to see the variety of jobs available at their local hospital.
With encouragement from his high school guidance counselor after participating in another Baystate program, “Blood and Guts” — a one-night career fair to showcase the job opportunities available at the hospital — Cunningham applied to become a student ambassador.
“Being a student ambassador really helped me to make sure (pursuing a medical career) is what I really wanted to do,” said Cunningham. “It’s an opportunity, locally, that allowed me to follow-up on my passion.”
Fellow Mohawk student and Baystate Franklin student ambassador Bree Cousineau, 18, of Rowe, agreed the program gave her a valuable experience that helped mold her career choice.
“Before participating, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Cousineau said. “But having the opportunity to be in the student ambassador program really helped solidify that I wanted to pursue a medical career.”
The summer program, which caters to students entering their senior year of high school, provides students with a first-hand opportunity to experience working life in the hospital. Cunningham and Cousineau have observed and shadowed a variety of staff at Baystate Franklin, however, a highlight for both was having the opportunity to stand alongside surgeons in the operating room — learning the techniques being used and why.
The program began in 2004 as a way to provide high school students with an opportunity to experience the variety of health care professions available to them before deciding on a college or major field of study.
“I think it gives them additional relevance to what they are doing in their classes during the day,” said Sara Neuenschwander, a guidance counselor at Mohawk. “When they see the courses they will take in college, and what they are learning here at Mohawk, programs like this are really helpful for their future and give them exposure to a variety of career paths.”
Both Cunningham and Cousineau stressed the importance of having such programs available to high-schoolers, especially those who think they want to pursue a medical career, but have never fully experienced what that actually means.
“Helping people is the perk that comes along with the job, and saving lives,” said Cunningham. “But I love learning about medicine and the science behind it. Our bodies are a machine … and how it all works is a mystery.”
Cunningham and Cousineau will graduate from Mohawk this spring, and both plan to pursue medical careers in college. While Cunningham aspires to pursue a surgical career, Cousineau is interested in pediatric intensive care. They credit the student ambassador program and their academic work at Mohawk with providing them with a solid foundation to pursue their dreams.
“The support from the student ambassador program, teachers and guidance at Mohawk has really made me want to do these things,” said Cunningham. “I was really nervous at first, but the program has helped me build the confidence to know I can do this.”