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FORT CARSON, Colo. - Laughter and smiles filled the room during a
medical seminar as 13 middle school students learned about various
medical professions on Fort Carson, Feb. 18-20, 2014.
Capt. Jason
Auchincloss, aeromedical physician assistant, 1st Attack
Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation
Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, hosted the children from The
Colorado Springs School.
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Capt. Jason Auchincloss, aeromedical
physician assistant, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th
Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry
Division, shows middle school children how to put on a cast at Evans
Army Community Hospital's Orthopedic Clinic on Fort Carson, Colo.,
Feb. 19, 2014. Auchincloss hosted part of a medical seminar held for
13 middle school children from Colorado Springs School. (Photo by
Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public
Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division)
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“The medical seminar is designed to introduce the middle
school students to the different careers within the field of
medicine,” said Auchincloss. “This is accomplished through a
combination of didactic instruction and experiential
learning opportunities. This seminar introduces the children
to medical specialties spanning the full spectrum, from
pre-hospital emergency care to postmortem specialties, and
even a small portion of veterinary medicine.”
Specialties visited included cardiology, radiology,
pathology, forensic medicine, orthopedics, battlefield
trauma medicine, physical therapy and acupuncture.
“For me, hosting the program serves
two purposes,” said Auchincloss. “First and foremost, it
offers me the opportunity to mold young, inquisitive minds
and provide them with a glimpse into certain aspects of the
ever-changing field of medicine. Last but not least, the
program helps build strong bonds within the Colorado Springs
population and promotes healthy community relationships.”
School leaders said they believe the military aspect of
the seminar adds a level of excitement that helps the
children learn more.
“There is a certain segment of
each visit that the kids really latch on to,” said Eric
Gaylord, head of middle school, CSS. “The high pressure and
intensity, and saving someone's life heavily influences the
children. I can easily see a quarter or a third of the
children choosing to go into some type of civilian or
military emergency medicine. Not to mention, the military's
facilities and instructors are awesome. The military portion
of the visit was probably the most impactful education for
the children.”
This was Auchincloss' second year
hosting the medical seminar for CSS at Evans Army Community
Hospital.
“I have a son at the same school and was
approached last year by the head of the middle school ... to
see if I could assist with supporting a program for the
careers in medicine seminar,” said Auchincloss. “Last year's
seminar exposed the children to pre-hospital emergency care,
battlefield medicine and orthopedics. This year, we have
expanded our seminar to include the field of surgery, and it
is my hope that this program will continue to grow in the
future.”
Auchincloss said he believes the seminar
influenced the children to be open to all the health
professions because similar seminars helped him decide to
enter the field of medicine.
“These children are the
future,” he said. “In the next five to 10 years, they will
be transitioning into career fields of their own, and I hope
that some of them will look back on this week as they make
those choices. Experiential learning seminars similar to
this were instrumental in my career choices and hopefully
the experiences they encounter here will stimulate a desire
to care for the injured. Who knows, one of them may one day
become a military health care provider.”
Teaching
children about advancements and careers in the medical field
is a personal passion, said Auchincloss.
“I am
passionate about military medicine,” he said. “Our most
precious asset is the young soldier on the battlefield, and
to care for that soldier, and their family members, is truly
a privilege. Being able to introduce the youth of today and
the civilian community to the art of military medicine is an
honor. For the students, I believe it is important for them
to see the medical advances that have developed thanks to
military medicine.”
CSS is thankful for the
opportunity to be guests of 1st ARB, EACH and Fort Carson,
said Gaylord.
“We are grateful that Jason Auchincloss
provided us with the ability to tour the medical facilities
on Fort Carson,” said Gaylord. “Without him, I don't know if
we could have made this happen. The children like the
reality of handling the medical materials and weren't just
listening to educational lectures which can lose their
attention. We would love to keep doing this indefinitely,
every year, because it's a great educational exposure to the
medical field for the children.”
More photos available below
By U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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