Blue Ridge, Highlands students gain medical experience at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Fidelia Eckerd Living Center

SYLVA - This fall at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and the Fidelia Eckerd Living Center, eight high school students from Blue Ridge and Highlands have been exploring what life will be like if they choose to pursue careers in the medical profession.

These students, who are enrolled in Health Occupations classes through their schools and Southwestern Community College, will get experience in all aspects of the hospital’s operation during the course of this school year. The students began their internships on Aug. 10 and will continue through May 17 of next year.

“The students are extremely excited to be in this program,” said Jeanne Kosartes, who is helping coordinate the interns through the Fidelia Eckerd Living Center. “Our managers here and at the hospital have gone out of their way to let these students get some hands-on experience. Some of the students have even been able to observe surgery first-hand. This is giving them an idea of what a career would be like in a small-town, state-of-the-art hospital like ours.

While at the hospital and living center, the students are getting to learn about everything from the emergency department and operating room to long-term care and physical therapy. Other assignments include observing the pharmacy and medical laboratories in action.

“Even though we are a small hospital, the students are getting to see that we have a lot of talented doctors and staff members working here,” Kosartes said. “The students are getting to be more involved in our community through their internships, and we as a hospital are looking to keep them in the community as our area grows. We want to show them they can live and prosper in their hometown after they graduate from high school and college.”

Through a cooperative agreement with SCC, Highlands Cashiers Hospital, and Blue Ridge School, students can complete vocational pathways and earn college credit toward a certificate, diploma or degree at SCC.