Teens learn to wrap a sprain and see an ultrasound at Dignity Health Northridge

More than 50 seventh-graders from Northridge Middle School got to imagine themselves as doctors, nurses or other medical professionals while taking part in a “Mini Medical School” on Wednesday, May 1.

The students visited Dignity Health Medical Group’s Urgent Care Family Practice in Northridge, where they met with more than a dozen physicians and staff volunteers and got to test out state-of-the-art medical equipment, use an x-ray machine, see an ultrasound and take someone’s blood pressure. The students also learned to bandage a sprain and to identify organs.

Mini Medical School is a joint partnership between Dignity Health Northridge Hospital and the Dignity Health Medical Group/Family Medicine Residency.

Colleen Warnesky, coordinator of behavioral health at Northridge Family Medicine, said in a statement that the purpose of the program is to expose students to the medical profession and encourage them to consider careers in healthcare.

“We also hoped that having this experience with our residents would also de-stigmatize the experience of going to see their own physicians and encourage the children to make healthy choices and care for their bodies,” Warnesky said.

In addition to the hands-on activities this week, students learned about nutrition and preventative care to stay healthy.

The participants received a certificate of completion and gift bags afterwards.