Allied Health Academy

The Allied Health Academy is a unique experience to study healthcare related courses and complete two years of clinical job shadowing at Chilton Medical Center. Students will be eligible to earn 16 Rutgers University School of Health professional credits.  In addition to their second year of job shadowing in their senior year, students also present a capstone project.  

Freshman and Sophomore Years begin the course sequence for the Allied Health Academy to establish the foundation for upper level courses. A series of trips and classroom experiences with Chilton Medical Center professionals will enhance the student’s learning. 

During Junior Year students will spend several days per month at Chilton Medical Center job shadowing the various departments including Cardiology, Wound Center, IMCU, Radiology, Obstetrics, Pharmacy, PT/OT, among other areas.

During Senior Year students select focused areas to participate in clinical shadowing throughout the month. There are options for students at Chilton, Hackettstown, Overlook, and Morristown hospitals, including other Atlantic Health System facilities. Students will participate in a final culminating Capstone presentation in the spring of their senior year. 

For more information about the Allied Health Academy, click here:  Allied Health Academy 

BIOETHICS
Grade: 9

Credits: 2.5 Pequannock Township High School credits
Prerequisites: Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Bioethics will explore issues in the life sciences, including the fields of medical treatment and research. Students will explore these conflicts and engage in scientific exploration and debate regarding the impact science has on medical research and funding. The topics covered are controversial and a mature student will be the best suited for this course.

GENETICS
Grade: 10

Credits: 5 Pequannock Township High School credits 

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Introduction to the mechanisms of heredity and evolution. Mechanisms of Mendelian inheritance, meiosis, recombination, gene mutation and mapping, and an introduction to modern biochemical, molecular, and population genetics.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Grade: 10

Credits: 5 Pequannock Township High School credits 

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

This course provides a comprehensive overview of health and wellness.  The impact of lifestyle choices on all aspects of personal health are discussed including physical, mental, emotional, social, and environmental.  The course will explore topics to nutrition, physical fitness, stress management, disease prevention, substance abuse, and healthy relationships.   The information and skills necessary for making informed and healthful decisions to promote wellness will be discussed with an emphasis on self‐responsibility. 

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 

Grade: 11

Credits: 5 Pequannock Township High School credits / 3 Rutgers University credits

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Medical Terminology is the study of words that pertain to body systems, anatomy, physiology, medical processes and procedures and a variety of diseases.  It provides specialized language for the health care team, enabling health care workers to communicate in an accurate, articulate and concise manner.  This course is designed to give the students a comprehensive knowledge of word construction, definition and use of terms to all areas of medical science.  The course includes but is not limited to terms to anatomy of the human body, functions of health and disease, and the use of language in processing medical/dental records and claim forms. Included with the Medical Terminology curricula is additional information on various CD‐ROMs available to supplement the current curricula or to use as a student‐centered teaching tool. The CD‐ROMS offer an interactive modality of teaching which enhances learning. 

DYNAMICS OF HEALTHCARE IN SOCIETY 

Grade: 11

Credits: 4 Pequannock Township High School credits / 3 Rutgers University credits

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Dynamics of Healthcare in Society is an orientation to health care and delivery, from an interdisciplinary perspective, with a focus on process skills to include critical thinking, ethical reasoning, effective communication, and self‐directed learning abilities.  The professional competencies stress application to general issues and topics common to all health care providers. Emphasis is placed on the role of the health care practitioner as both provider and consumer of health care services.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I 

Grade: 11

Credits: 6 Pequannock Township High School credits / 4 Rutgers University credits

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Anatomy and Physiology is the study of the structure and function of the human body.  These courses follow a sequential development of the major body systems in an organized and structured curriculum. The course is designed to give the students a selective overview of human anatomical structure and an analysis of human physiological principles.  Labs will include slide work, dissection of various animals and studies of the human skeleton.  The course will also use computer simulated dissection.

CLINICAL ROTATIONS 

Grade: 11

Credits: 4 Pequannock Township High School credits 

Prerequisites: Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy.

The course seeks to establish a core understanding of practices and techniques utilized by the medical profession. During the rotations, students will gain real-world experience shadowing Health Care Professionals and honoring the skills and knowledge learned in classes. Students will shadow in a range of settings, such as inpatient hospital settings, hospital emergency department, and operating rooms. 

EMERGENCY AND CLINICAL CARE 

Grade: 12

Credits: 2 Pequannock Township High School credits / 2 Rutgers University credits

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Emergency and Clinical Care is a course that describes how to respond to emergencies before medical help arrives.  The course is designed to give the student the knowledge of how to recognize and respond to an emergency.  The intent of the course is to help the student feel more confident in his/her ability to act appropriately in the event of an emergency.  Students are prepared to 1) obtain a patient medical history, 2) take and record vital signs relative to medical/dental treatment, and 3) acquire cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification. 

The goal of this course is to provide students with the training needed to respond to community emergencies. First aid topics such as bleeding, shock, bandaging, burns, head and spinal injuries, chest, abdominal and pelvic injuries, bone, joint, and muscle injuries, splinting, medical emergencies, environmental emergencies, and traumatic injuries will be addressed. Students must complete the BLS Healthcare Provider course through the AHA or similar through the American Red Cross.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (MCVT Shared Time)

Grade: 12

Credits: 6 Pequannock Township High School credits / 4 Rutgers University credits

Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy

Anatomy and Physiology is the study of the structure and function of the human body.  These courses follow a sequential development of the major body systems in an organized and structured curriculum. The course is designed to give the students a selective overview of human anatomical structure and an analysis of human physiological principles.  Labs will include slide work, dissection of various animals and studies of the human skeleton.  The course will also use computer simulated dissection.

AP BIOLOGY (Pequannock Allied Health Students)

Grades:  12

Credits: 6

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology Honors and Chemistry (Honors) and department recommendation

This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college biology course that is driven by a strong laboratory program and higher levels of biological concepts and models. The Advanced Placement Program of the College Board is designed to prepare students for the AP exam and advanced placement in college above the introductory level courses. It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology.  Enrolled students are required to complete an assignment during the summer preceding the start of this course.  All students enrolled in this class are expected to prepare for and take the Advanced Placement exam in May.

CLINICAL ROTATIONS 

Grade: 12

Credits: 9 Pequannock Township High School credits 

Prerequisites: Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy.

The course seeks to establish a core understanding of practices and techniques utilized by the medical profession. During the rotations, students will gain real-world experience shadowing Health Care Professionals and honoring the skills and knowledge learned in classes. Students will be placed in one or two settings. 

CAPSTONE

Grade: 12

Credits: 9 Pequannock Township High School credits 

Prerequisites: Course exclusively offered to students enrolled in Allied Health Medical Academy.

This course is designed for students to deeply explore an academic problem, topic, or issue of individual interest in order to design, plan, and conduct a year-long research investigation that addresses a research question. Students are introduced to the importance of scientific research focussing on its role in healthcare and driving breakthroughs and improvements. They will identify, analyze and evaluate a topic in healthcare of individual interest. Students will then analyze their data collected from their research study or project in order to write their research paper and then prepare a presentation of their research findings. Lastly, students present their research to a wide range of public audience members.