Highlights Archive
Congratulations 2020-2021
Health Exploration Virtual Interns!
We are so proud of our Health Exploration Virtual Internship completers for 2020-2021! Students completed 100 hours of learning including Shadow Health simulations with patients, Zooms with Sharp Grossmont Hospital healthcare professionals, and Healthcare Essentials 1 and 2 classes.
Grossmont Healthcare District Scholarship Winners 2021
Grossmont Healthcare District Scholarship Winners 2020
2017 GUHSD Health Pathways Graduates
Last year in 2016 the GHD Health Career Pathways graduated 114 health pathway completers and will graduate more than 200 this year. Three of our participating sites celebrated their students that met and/or exceeded the completer requirements during award ceremonies held throughout East County. We look forward to hearing from these alumni in the future. Congratulations to all of these fantastic students!
UCSD Nursing Shadow Tours - May 2017
Students from Mt. Miguel High School and Granite Hills High School spent a day with a nurse in several departments of the University of San Diego Medical Center in La Jolla. Students were able to select interest areas that included surgery, oncology, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurology, emergency, ICU, PTU, NICU, post-partum, or labor and delivery. We are excited to continue this partnership and offer real world opportunities to our health pathway students interested in nursing!
Health Pathway Student Presentation at First Friday Breakfast
May 2017
Representing all Health Pathway programs in our district, Noemi Avenido addressed well over 100 attendees, including officials from our district, local politicians, board members from the Grossmont Healthcare District, community college reps, and East County business people. She spoke very professionally about the power and positive impact of her Health Pathway on students like her at Mt. Miguel High School and in our district. Visit the East County Herald's May 11-17 Digital version for photos from the event.
Mt. Miguel at the San Diego Blood Bank - May 2017
Did you know that one donation can save 3 lives?! If you are eligible, PLEASE consider donating! This trip was extra special, as students who turned in a consent form were able to learn their blood types. They are in the cardiovascular unit, and usually do a SIMULATED blood typing lab, but instead were able to do to the REAL thing! Not to mention exposure to a half dozen new career options, and an awesome lecture about blood! What a great day!
Bridgett DeSonia Recognized as Staff Member of the Year by SDCSBA
April, 2017
The GUHSD Health Pathway Initiative is so proud of our Mt. Miguel site coordinator and teacher Bridgett DeSonia for all that she has done to deserve Staff Member of the Year for SDCSBA. Here is the excerpt from the Honoring Our Own recognition ceremony held by the San Diego County School Board Association on April 28:
"Bridgett has contributed to the success of her students by developing and implementing an Academy of Medical and Health Sciences at Mt. Miguel High. She developed a program that promotes compassionate care and academic rigor as it exposes students to healthcare careers. She fosters a family environment and dedicates time to mentor every student as they move through the academy. She involvers her students with the local healthcare community through guest speakers, industry tours and more. She encourages her students to aim for nothing but the best."
Thank you Bridgett DeSonia for your dedication to your students!
Monte Vista visits the Blood Bank - April 2017
Students from Monte Vista High School's Anatomy & Physiology class visited the San Diego Blood Bank. Students learned about current research being done at SDBB from Rob Tressler, Ph.D. They followed-up with a tour of the facility. In addition, students had their blood typed by Blood Bank nursing staff AND 13 students with their instructor took time to donate. Thank you again San Diego Blood Bank for an amazing experience, and to the Monte Vista students and instructor who donated to save lives!
Heartland Fire Training Center Tour for Mt. Miguel
April 2017
The Mt. Miguel Academy of Medical and Health Sciences (AMHS) Seniors and underclassmen interested in EMS toured the Heartland and Fire Rescue Training Center in El Cajon. They learned about how fire science is an avenue into in-the-field emergency medicine and what it takes to become an EMT/paramedic. They visited the Academy training facilities and spoke with actual EMT/Paramedic/Fire Fighters. Thank you Heartland Fire Training Facility for a fantastic tour and overview of the healthcare opportunities available in the fire service!
AHA Basic Life Support Courses - March 2017
Health Career Pathway students from West Hills, Granite Hills, Mt. Miguel, and Santana High Schools received training and certification in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association. The 4-hour course was provided free of charge and students practiced skills for 1-rescuer and 2-rescuer adult CPR, infant CPR, bag valve mask use, AED use, and choking management. The course is offered every 2nd Saturday of the month during the school year.
Valhalla Visits the Blood Bank - March 2017
Students received a presentation from research scientist Rob Tressler, Ph.D., and heard the powerful story from a young patient's mother who requires bi-weekly blood transfusions to survive. They followed-up with a tour of the facility. In addition, students who were over 16 y.o. and had parent permission were able to get their blood typed by Blood Bank nursing staff. Thank you again San Diego Blood Bank!
West Hills Visits the Health Occupations Center
March 2017
Health Career Pathway students from Mrs. McDowell's Physiology course visited the Health Occupations Center next door to West Hills High School. Students learned about the different programs offered and toured the EMT, Veterinary Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Phlebotomy & Medical Laboratory Assistant, Sports Medicine, and Nursing programs.
Santana Visits the Health Professions Programs at Grossmont College - March 2017
Health Pathway students from Santana High School visited the Grossmont College Health & Sciences Complex to learn about the Allied Health and Nursing Programs that they offer. Students learned about the variety of programs offered and had the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience learning skills that would be necessary for careers in respiratory therapy, cardiovascular technology, and nursing. Thank you Grossmont College staff and volunteers for welcoming our students!
Grossmont Healthcare District Scholarship Recognition
March 2017
The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently awarded scholarships to 25 GUHSD high school students who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional. The scholarships were presented at the GHD board meeting on Friday, March 17.
Students were selected by school counselors and health pathway coordinators for their academic excellence, outstanding citizenship and a desire to improve our world in the healthcare field. Two students from each high school will receive either a $3,000 or $1,500 check from GHD at the end of their first semester of college, contingent on completing at least nine units with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.
GHD has honored more than 500 local high school students interested in a healthcare career with scholarship grants since 1999. Over the years, hundreds of local high school students have received individual scholarships totaling more than $1 million.
The 2017 GHD Scholarship Recipients from GUHSD Include:
El Cajon Valley: Mario Ballo, Noor Haleem
El Capitan: Mikayla Buckley, Tori Vaca
Granite Hills: Zaida Minjares, Vallarie Basa
Grossmont: Breanne Williams Sutton, Ashley Hans
Grossmont Middle College: Alexandra Munson, Emelda Alchi
Helix Charter: Gabrielle Root, Emily Lam
IDEA Center: Jenna Marogi
Monte Vista: Euridice Pamela Sanchez Martinez, Silvia Bustos
Mount Miguel: Noemi Avenido, Lorraine Maraan
Santana: Rency Mallari, Jessica Garcia
Steele Canyon: Angelina Miramontes, Anna Silva
Valhalla: Madison Becker, Zion White
West Hills: Rose Hawaree, Rayelynn Barker
Health Career Pathway Teacher Collaboration - March 2017
The Health Career Pathway Teacher Collaboration at the San Diego Blood Bank was a success! On March 15, about 30 teachers enjoyed a morning to connect and learn from scientists working in stem cell research and learn more about the San Diego Blood Bank. They also collaborated to develop and adapt current health pathway lessons that supports the implementation of NGSS in classrooms. Thank you pathway teachers who attended and thank you San Diego Blood Bank!
Mt. Miguel Visits Calbiotech, Inc.
February 2017
Medical Chemistry students from the Mt. Miguel High School Health Career Pathway Program had the opportunity to tour the Calbiotech Inc. facility in El Cajon, CA. Calbiotech produces a variety of ELISA kits that can be used in research or to diagnose autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and check for cancer or protein markers just as a few examples. Students had the opportunity to hear from Calbiotech professionals, research scientists, took a facilities tour, and got hands on experience performing a serial dilution. Thank you Calbiotech Inc. for the learning experience!
Granite Hills Visits the San Diego Blood Bank
February 2017
Students from the Granite Hills Health Career Pathway program visited the San Diego Blood Bank. Students had the opportunity to learn about blood banking and transfusion therapy from research scientist Rob Tressler, Ph.D., and hear from a patient whose life was saved by blood transfusions. Students who were over 16-years-old and had parent permission were able to have their blood type determined by the Blood Bank nursing staff. They also were able to tour the San Diego Blood Bank facility to get an inside look at blood banking and learned about career opportunities. Thank you San Diego Blood Bank for hosting the Granite Hills High School Health Career Pathway students!
El Cajon Valley Visits the Health Professions Program at Grossmont College
February 2017
Following an overview of the Health Professions programs students rotated through three of the areas to get hands-on experience. In respiratory therapy students practiced intubation and learned how to use a bag valve mask. In cardiovascular technology they observed the ultrasound process on a patients coronary artery and several had their own coronary artery scan. In the nursing simulation lab students practiced using stethoscopes to listen for abnormal breathing, heart, and gut sounds on the simulation manikins. At the end of the tour, current nursing and allied health program students provided a real world view of what it is like to get into, and be part of, the programs offered at Grossmont College. Thank you Grossmont College Health Professions for helping to guide the future of our Health Career Pathway students!
Mt Miguel Visits Pharmatek, Inc.
November 2016
Ever wonder how medicines are made? In January, Medical Chemistry students from the Mt. Miguel High School Health Career Pathway program had the opportunity to visit Pharmatek Laboratories in San Diego. Students were able to press their own placebo tablets, test the pH of synthetic gastric fluid and take a tour of the facilities. Thank you for the opportunity Pharmatek!
West Hills Visits UC Irvine Medical Center
November 2016
Students from the West Hills High School Health Pathway had the amazing opportunity to visit the UC Irvine Medical Center Urology Department and get some hands on experience. The students were given the chance to practice suturing, interact with a Da Vinci surgery robot, and performed an endoscopic seed removal surgery from a red pepper. Check out the slideshow to see what they did. Thank you UC Irvine Medical Center for this fantastic opportunity!
Mt. Miguel Teaches at Avondale Elementary
November 2016
Wednesday, November 9 was a wonderful day to be a Mount Miguel Medical Academy Senior! The day began with a visit from Superintendent Glover, Principal Hedrick and district health pathways coordinator, Heather Peterson. A very deserving young woman in our Human Anatomy class, Noemi Avenido (our Medical Academy President), was recognized as the GHD Health Pathways student of the month. Next we walked to Avondale Elementary where our teams in the Human Anatomy class read the children's book they created to 2nd and 3rd grade classes. These books were a representation of the learning from our skeletal unit, outlining the process of bone repair. The high school and elementary students were all smiles following the activity. Our students did an outstanding job representing our Medical Academy, Mount Miguel High School and GUHSD! Thanks to all involved!
Donate Life and NAMI Presentations
Donate Life and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) recently provided guest speaker presentations for students enrolled in the Medical Science and Medical Biology courses at Mount Miguel High School. Donate for Life spoke to students about the importance of Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation while NAMI spoke to students about how to recognize and support individuals suffering from a mental illness. NAMI presenters also speak openly to students about their own mental health struggles. Thank you Donate for Life and NAMI for your support!
Valhalla Visits Calbiotech, Inc.
October 2016
A fantastic group of 25 Medical Chemistry students from the Valhalla High School Health Career Pathway Program had the opportunity to tour the Calbiotech Inc. facility in El Cajon, CA. Calbiotech produces a variety of ELISA kits that can be used in research or to diagnose autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and check for cancer or protein markers just as a few examples. Students had the opportunity to hear from Calbiotech professionals, research scientists, took a facilities tour, and got hands on experience performing a serial dilution. What a fantastic learning experience for our Health Career Pathway students!
Healthcare Exploration Summer Institute 2016
Over the summer 15 GUHSD Health Career Pathway students from Granite Hills, Mount Miguel, Valhalla, Santana and West Hills were transformed into Healthcare Exploration Summer Institute (HESI) hospital interns, gaining real-world skills working at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa. Following an intense month of preparatory homework leading up to our program start date, and four rigorous training days, the interns spent the month of July rotating through nearly 20 hospital departments spending over 7 hours a day with preceptors then going home and staying up very late researching and writing case studies and reflecting on their personal growth. Additionally, students generated e-portfolios. These digital spaces house the students’ CVs, resumes, evidence of scientific writing competency, and transcribed interviews with healthcare professionals, and can be used by the students long after the end-date of the HESI program.
The departments that hosted our students welcomed them in and taught them about their careers, about medical procedures and technology, and about patient care and the Sharp Experience. But most importantly, these students’ preceptors provided them with life lessons and insights that will alter the course of these young people’s lives. In this way, students benefited from incredible career exposure, learned about the value of finding a career they will be passionate about, practiced work readiness and communication skills, and applied knowledge from their Health Career Pathway courses to a “real-world” setting.
On July 29th, The rigorous internship program concluded with individual final student presentations at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center to a crowd of nearly 90 guests including families, Grossmont Healthcare District Board Members, GHD’s CEO, Sharp Grossmont Hospital staff, GUHSD Board Members, the Director of College and Career Readiness and our new Superintendent, Dr. Glover. The students did a fine job sharing their transformative experiences and officially graduated from the program. Photos from this event can be found on page 16 of the East Country Herald. More photos can be found on the HESI Facebook page.
Vaccination and Immunity Public Service Announcements
Pathway students synthesized their knowledge from an immunology unit to create short Public Service Announcement videos related to the topic of vaccinations. Working in small teams, students were charged with creating a product that could inform their communities about this topic, and how to support members of their families, school and community in making informed decisions related to vaccinations.
PSA!.mp4West Hills Spring 2016
Mt. Miguel Spring 2017
Santana's Resident Leadership Academy community project
Santana visits the Health Occupations Center
