Najia Saleem Alumni Guest Speaker

April 2023 | Nimrah Saleem 

HSA is renowned for producing top scholars and brilliant minds that tackle on to even greater achievements after graduating with the Academy. With these valuable connections, HSA can call upon these alumni to give invaluable insight and wisdom to the next generation of HSA members. One of these alumni was Najia Saleem, a 2020 HSA Graduate and past HSA President. Saleem is currently a third year at UCLA and is majoring in Human Biology and Society with a pre-med focused track. On March 24th, 2023, HSA was grateful to have her speak to the freshman and sophomore HSA classes to give insight about her high school experience and her advice on what current high school students should do to be successful. 

One of the pieces of advice she expressed was if one is really passionate about something, then no obstacle can drive that person off course. She related her rough experience about running for the HSA Board where she lost for two consecutive years. However, the other officers only saw her determination to become an HSA Officer, so they still elected her in as a general officer. Even with this minimal role, she reached out to different guest speakers and organizations to enrich the academy. The rest of HSA saw her efforts, and she finally won an election to be HSA President. Saleem truly cared for the academy, and she did not let her losing the election diminish her contributions to HSA, nor did it stop her from trying to run for an officer position again.  From this anecdote, Saleem highlights the importance of perseverance and  relates how being on the board was an amazing experience for her because she had to be proactive in her networking skills to reach out to people to come and talk to the academy. Saleem then explains how some people may think that this skill or her time on the HSA board was useless to her future, but she highlights how no experience is wasteful. In fact, some of the people she was able to network with are now head of medical organizations she wants to attend. She emphasizes the importance of networking because if these new presidents or heads remember her, it will give her a greater advantage, allow her to further network, and get her name out there.

Saleem also emphasized the importance of being self-aware of one’s own priorities in life and goals. For instance, over her junior year summer, Saleem attained her Certified Nursing Assistant License. She believed being a CNA would allow her to gain the bed-side patient experience to truly determine if this is the field she wants to be in. A CNA has to deal with helping patients with everyday tasks which can include showering, changing, or eating. She realizes for some this isn’t the path or ideal medical career a person would have in mind. However, she explains that working as a CNA is what really motivated her to pursue her passion for patient care and medicine since she was able to see patients from a different and more personal perspective, enriching her view of the medical field. She further relates how some of the patients would be extremely heavy, depressed, or would have bed sores, but this continued to fueled her drive since the thought that “I would want someone to help me in that position” stuck with her. Saleem conveys how this empathetic attitude would allow her to persevere in the hard tasks of a CNA and keep a smile on her face the whole time. Even if she was having a hard day, she knew it was her duty to provide the best care possible for her patients, and so she did.  

Saleem also wanted to make it clear that no experience is a waste, and every opportunity leads a person to be one step closer to their true career or path. HSA can show people that they don’t want to be in the medical field, and this is okay because knowing what not to do would allow them to focus on what they do want. Everyone will end up where they are meant to be, and as long as one carries on passion, success will follow. This is the theme that follows Saleem, one must acquire a genuine passion because this is what will allow one to persevere when things get rough and exert one’s full potential in all of high school and beyond. 

ATCS: Sports’ Best First Responders

January 2023 | Kyra Phaychanpheng

A series of events that took place at the Chino Hills Varsity Girls basketball game on Friday, January 13th, 2023. Lying down and regaining some oxygen after she “got the wind knocked out of her”, Haley, the sophomore guard and also an HSA student, stood up and was able to walk to the bench with Jia, our school’s athletic trainer. All of us players were extremely grateful there was no serious injury, or anything dealing with a hit to the head. And although this happened to be a minor incident, it is evident that athletic trainers, or ATCs, are at the core of the athletes' protection and safety. 

Many people overlook ATCs, thinking the job is just taping unstable ankles, wrapping ice bags to splinting shins, or cleaning bloody cuts and scrapes. Those duties are performed daily, but as an athletic trainer, you often have the duties of “the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions” (NATA). The athletic trainer has full control over the player, whether or not they are safe to return to activity or not after an injury. Athletes who do not listen to the advice of ATCs are highly at risk of further injury. Additionally, they are almost always the first responders in sports emergencies. 

Being CPR certified, they can take action in major incidents such as cardiac arrest cases. The recent story of the NFL Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, demonstrates exactly how ATCs save many lives without hesitation. Only a few moments after Hamlin collapsed on the field after a tackle, medical professionals immediately took care of the situation. The assistant athletic trainer of the Buffalo Bills, Denny Kellington, was the one “who administered critical CPR to Hamlin, who doctors say lost his pulse on the field had to be immediately revived through resuscitation and defibrillation” (Buffalo Bills trainer Denny Kellington saved Damar Hamlin’s life). Kellington’s quick thinking and action was extremely vital to “not just saving [Hamlin’s] life, but his neurological function” . This athletic trainer was able to gain global traction, and display the importance of sports medicine. 

Hence, sports medicine education at our own school serves as an introduction about this career path, that they may be unaware of the importance of. In addition to the class, ROP Sports Medicine, there also is a program that allows students to become athletic training student aides, or ATSAs. In both the class and program, students learn real skills of athletic trainers, such as taping eight different body parts, developing emergency plans, and precautions about concussions.  So many children and teens participate in sports, “In 2020, just over one-half of children aged 6–17 years (54.1%) participated in sports during the past 12 months” (CDC). Clearly ,they would be in recreational sports or sports at school, in which all rely on athletic trainers or sports medicine doctors to provide protection and ensure the well being of all. 

CHHS Pizza Party

November 2022 | Nimrah Saleem

Culture can’t be made without tradition and community. Both of these elements were present in the annual Health Sciences Academy Pizza Party on Friday, September 2nd after school at the MODS lunch tables. Friends and free food is an offer HSA knows high schoolers can’t resist. This year was no different. Thanks to Mr. Morales, our HSA director, he was able to purchase 40 boxes of Little Caesar’s pizza and cold drinks for HSA students. In this gathering, HSA officers had a formal introduction to the academy members, and allowed all the different grade level members to mingle and eat. Lowerclassmen were able to seek advice or familiarize themselves with upperclassmen and upperclassmen were able to inspire the lowerclassmen. Just by being able to visually observe the amount of people that make up the academy or, really, the amount of people that one shares a common identity and passion with was a truly eye opening experience for everyone present at the gathering. It solidified and gave relief to those hesitant in the academy, as they were able to see people who will venture the same path as them or have already gone through that path. Even HSA athletes and performers who had practice soon after were able to divulge in a quick slice before heading off. This emphasized the versatility of HSA members who not only have a passion for health, but dedicate time into their commitments, whether that be into sports or performing arts. From a birds eye view, the HSA party could have seemed minimal and not essential due to the absence of any discussion of health and science. However, zooming in, the pizza party is extremely significant in its ability to showcase the culture of HSA and bond members from all grade levels for the first time. It was a great way to start off the school year, and a tradition that will hopefully continue for years to come. 

Be Mindful of Yourself

November 2021 | Safi Saleem

Take a deep breath……hold it……. now exhale. Although this might seem like a simple breathing technique, it is something that many of us forget to do in our busy lives. We often forget to take a minute to pay attention to our mental health and focus on improving our self-being. That’s what the Mindfulness Club aims to bring, a sense of calm and peace to our inner being.

I witnessed this the second I entered the club located in Mr. Murphy’s room, I was greeted by beautiful serenading rain music, I was immediately put at ease. Then, we were introduced to yoga positions such as the seated breathing pose which claimed to help blood flow and circulation within our body. Breathing in and out I felt some of my stress crawl out and I felt like the burden on me was lifted. We then twisted our backs and alleviated the stress off our back and neck. I audibly heard cracks arising from all over the classroom and sighs of relief after that exercise. Never have I felt so harmonized with the other students, it felt incredible. At the end of the yoga exercises, we were treated with an inspirational quote from a book about never giving up. Not only did I feel rejuvenated but inspired. I asked Darren Ich (12th) about how he felt about the yoga positions, and he remarked “I felt so calm and relaxed than I was before, there really was a difference.” Overall, the meeting was a smashing success and delivered us with valuable techniques we could take anywhere, not just in the classroom.

Additionally, I had a chance to sit down with the President of Mindfulness Club, Srinidhi Muralidhar (12th), and ask him some questions about the club. When asked about what inspired him to make this club, he replied that it was freshmen year where he had an HSA Grant proposal where he made a research paper about how being mindful impacts teenagers. This project irked the attention of Mr. Murphy which then became the club advisor to the club. He also sees that the future of the mindfulness club being even more schoolwide events and soon a guest speaker that aids professional athletes. He hopes that other schools in the district will make a similar club and witness the success it has on students. Finally, when asked about what advice he has to someone who will have to take upon his gigantic role when he graduates, he gives this advice.

“Like what you do, and you will succeed.”

The Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) Internship

May 2020 | Agnes Yoon

Being a part of HSA has many outstanding benefits, the most prominent being the countless extra-learning opportunities. Involvement in the Academy allows students to participate in internships, one being at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center or PVHMC. The junior volunteer program at this hospital is encompassed by compassionate, top-tier staff who aim to provide students with truly hands-on experiences. The available work stations at PVHMC cover a wide range, from direct patient care to labor and delivery and pharmacy. 

Working on a direct patient floor is an experience many high school students are unable to obtain. However, at PVHMC, this dream becomes a reality for some. HSA senior Alyssa Lim has been volunteering on a MedSurg floor for around two years and says that “The extremely hands-on duties the nurses entrust in me allowed me to really get a feel for the career path I was hoping to pursue. From my two years at the hospital, I learned so much more than I could have imagined.” With every new volunteer session, students can request a station that interests them. When the last session came around, my top choice was in the labor-delivery-recovery-postnatal or LDRP station. In this exclusive learning environment, students are trained to attend to the needs of mothers approaching the wonders of childbirth and those who have just brought a new life into the world. Here, I have been fortunate enough to have witnessed a handful of live births and support the labor process. At PVHMC, students are given the gracious opportunities of stepping into the field of medicine for a portion of the day and delve into the future they aspire to live in. 

High school is probably one of the most important four years of your life as you decide which road to take and how to get there; it is the start line to your career pathway. Many students feel pressured about the options they have for future careers and their options for college, but there are many factors to take in when choosing a future career. Ryan Wada, a guest speaker and physician assistant who graduated from Stanford University, explains the factors that play in when choosing a path through medicine: money, time, place and ego.  The most important factors when choosing a career and a college is time and money, according to Wada: “Let’s compare choosing a career to finding your dream car. For example, let’s say that my dream car is a Tesla and some of the reasons that I want this car are that it’s extremely pretty and is eco-friendly, but since it’s too expensive for my budget, I’ll cross it off my list.” When choosing your career, you have to consider the time that it will take you to get there and whether or not you’re willing to spend your time in the workplace for the rest of your life. Additionally, you will have to consider the cost of your career pathway and narrow down your choices of universities /colleges based on your major and cost of college. “Using the Tesla example, I may not want to buy my dream car because of the extreme pricing.

But if I consider the discounts and rebates of the car, I can narrow down the price to an affordable amount.” This scenario is the same for choosing a future college: although the price may be a bit tremendous, you should not cross it off your list just yet. If you are a well-rounded student with excellent athletics and academics and volunteer in your community and get accepted into a good college/university, most of the time they will offer you a full scholarship so that the cost is not a problem.

Wada has worked several careers before becoming a physician assistant. “Often, you’ll work multiple careers before finding your dream career. It happens all the time and you shouldn’t give up just because you worked a career that you didn’t find enjoyable.” Before working as a physician assistant, Wada worked as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). “I loved being an EMT and the thing about being a medical professional is that you get to choose our shifts. I chose to work 12-hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday and studied and did my homework while working before going to school.” Even though he loved his job, Wada got injured and broke his back while working and decided that an EMT was too dangerous of a career to do for the rest of his life. He eventually turned to the PA (Physician Assistant) profession and graduated from Stanford University with his degree.

The path to being a medical professional is extremely difficult and takes many years of hard work to reach the finish line, and even after the finish life when you become a certified professional, there are still elements to consider, such as student debt. College is expensive and the stress of paying back student debt causes many students to end up choosing a career that requires less time and schooling. However, Wada encourages people to go the extra mile and receive their master’s and doctor’s degree if they can: “I feel that four more years of education is a small price to pay for more opportunities to experience more. If you’re worried about student debt, a person with a doctor’s or a master’s degree such as a physician can make so much more money than a PA can, and you can pay off your debt quicker and start making money faster. A few more years of education goes a long way and I encourage all of you to go above and beyond the finish line where your opportunities are infinite, and your dreams are limitless.”

Western University 

December 2019 | Ava Mack

HSA students recently took a trip to Western University. This field trip gave students the chance to explore and participate in different job opportunities in the medical field. From participating in a pediatric seminar to operating an ultrasound, everyone that attended in this field trip learned a lot about the jobs in the medical field. Some of these workshops they had represented the College of Graduate Nursing and College of Health Science. 

 Shania, who attended this event said, “Attending Western University was a great learning experience. There was a lot of hands on activities which I really enjoyed and it helped me get an idea of what it’s like in the medical field. I especially enjoyed being able to speak with college students who are currently going through medical school and getting to ask them questions. Overall, this was an experience that will help shape my career choice.” Shania’s favorite station was the college of health sciences. In this workshop students got to practice surgical knots, talk to current PA students, and get to learn more about what being a PA means. 

Another student that attended the event was Nimrah. She says, “My experience at Western University was one I will never forget. My attitude at first was regretful for going to learn on Thanksgiving break. However, at the end I was extremely grateful to attend such an eye- opening event. For example, I was able to act as an ultrasound technician and search for fluids along the heart, kidney, bladder, spleen, and liver on an actual person. I was also introduced to various departments in Western University which expressed how extensive the medical field truly is. Thus, I can clearly say my experience at Western U. was unforgettable.” 

 I had a wonderful experience during the field trip. I gained more interest in being a PA and discovered new jobs in the medical feild that I did not even know existed! Although getting up early on one of the first days of thanksgiving break was tough, it was definitely worth it. Western U is a great school that offers its students many different career paths in the medical field. If you did not get the chance to go on the field trip this year I highly recommend that you sign up for it next school year. You will learn new information in a fun, captivating way.

Jessica Flores: The Pathway Forward

December 2019 | Safi Saleem

Going through high school can be both a confusing and challenging experience. At times we are confronted with new situations and tasks we have never seen before. On top of all this, we are expected to plan for the future and decide on what colleges and careers to go into. Having a mentor who has gone through what you’re facing can really help in achieving and fulfilling your goals. Thus, the USC mentorship program founded by Jessica Flores is aiming to resolve this.

The guest speaker Jessica Flores, who recently graduated from USC with a bachelor's in human biology and a masters in Global Medicine is currently applying for medical school. During the presentation, she went over the mentorship in detail. The pre-health mentorship program sets you up every week a mentor that will help set goals for you and introduce you to standardized test questions for about 15 minutes. While the time is brief, it helps to have questions you want to ask beforehand.

Jessica also spoke about how it’s important to be well rounded and to do activities you are passionate about for college applications. For high schoolers, she advised juniors to excel academically and to complete the personal statement early so it can be reviewed and checked. Also, for seniors to have a list of schools they want to attend and find scholarships. She also gave advice on what to focus on in college. College freshmen should solely focus on GPA and getting used to college life. Then, you should join clubs, research, and volunteer later in college years.  

Overall, Jessica’s presentation highlighted that having a mentor who can help set goals for you is highly beneficial. Just 15 minutes a week is enough to have a clear goal and a path to whatever medical career you want. High school is hard, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Connected by Blood

December 2019 | Wynn Phaychanpheng

To some, it is just an excuse to get out of class. To others, a way for them to give back.To the most extravagant, it can be described as possibly giving a gift most participating cannot entirely comprehend: the gift of life. However you look at it, the fall Chino Hills High Blood Drive brings only good to all involved.

Arranged and organized by our very own HSA Academy, the fall blood drive hosted November 21 garnered the attention and participation of hundreds of husky students.

The HSA Academy partnered with Lifestream Blood Bank, which is a nonprofit organization centered in the Inland Empire. Since 1951, they have been serving over 80 different SoCal hospitals and centers, helping save lives for people who need blood transfusions because of emergencies, chronic and terminal diseases, cancer treatment, blood disorders, and various other medical conditions.

According to the National Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and just one donation can save up to three lives. Which means, if we whip out our calculators, approximating that there were about 300-400 donors at our blood drive, we would have donated enough blood to save 900-1200 lives!

An event like this with the capability to help so many must also have the support of many individuals. To fill that role, we have the kind Lifestream nurses and also our enthusiastic HSA student volunteers to thank. About 14 HSA students per grade (9-12) volunteered for this event, waking up before dawn and arriving at 6:00 to the school to help setup with groggy yet excited faces. This was the worst part of the event for most volunteers, with sophomore Jenna Min stating “ waking up at four was definitely not the move”. Well, their efforts and inconveniences were very much appreciated, because when it came time for the drive to begin everything was properly in order.

When donors walked in to the gym that fine morning, they were greeted by the smiles of the sign in booth, where they were checked in. It was likely the case that volunteers had run to collect them in their classes; this was one of junior Shreya Arcot's favorite activities to do: gather the eager donors from their classes. After checking in, donors wait to be prescreened by lifestream workers to make sure they are eligible for the draw. Then it is time for the draw! HSA students were there to support the donors by holding their hands (literally) through the process, keeping them calm and relaxed when it was time for the needle to be brought and then inserted into the arm. Kaitlyn Mendoza(12) recounted her experience, explaining “I was very nervous at first because I thought I was going to faint during the process but afterwards they(HSA volunteers) made me feel really comfortable and I was good throughout the rest of the process”.

For those that did end up feeling a little dizzy or on the edge of a blackout, once again the HSA kids came to the rescue, serving as nurses this time around. A large blue gym mat was laid in the center of the floor for this purpose, simply named “The Mat”, it was where students who were feeling not the best after donating could recuperate.

When I volunteered this past spring at the blood drive, my personal favorite thing to do was help these students feel better by givingthem orange juice to raise their blood pressure or to give them wet towels to cool down. In addition, for every donor snacks were provided after the draw, which is obviously a big plus for us always-hungry teenagers. After eating their snacks, donors were then led back to their classes.

Overall, donating blood at the CHHS fall blood drive was a simple, quick and for the most part a painless process. For senior Vince Villanueva, this was his first time donating blood and he recalled “Everything seemed to go pretty smoothly for me and others while I was there”. After stating that he wish he had participated in the prior year, he encouraged others to participate if they get a chance, claiming “Even is you’re scared of needles it’s not that bad and it’s over before you know it”.

Audrey Sogata(11) emphasized the importance of heavy student participation and hosting the blood drive, summing it up perfectly, saying “It is important for our school to host the annual blood drive because it opens an opportunity for many high schoolers to donate blood that would save thousands of lives.Donating blood is a rewarding experience that saves lives”.So come next spring, I encourage each and every student to participate in blood donation if you qualify. And thank you to all of the amazing individuals who helped or donated blood for this year’s successful Fall Blood Drive. 

Alan Partono: College Preparation

October 2019 | Jillian Berry

When you’re in preschool, you’re preparing for kindergarten.  From kindergarten to first grade and onwards.  Eventually, you make your way to high school. Maybe you already know what you’re interested in and have thought about college, even if just a little.  This was not the case with Alan Partono, during his presentation he shared that he wasn’t aware of how his decisions impacted his future as a high schooler. 

After a lot of hard work, he is academically successful and has just graduated from UCR now on his way to medical school. So he definitely had a lot of helpful tips and advice to give during his presentation. Alan explained how he regretted not being involved in sports or clubs and just went through the motions during high school.  Nowadays, colleges have stopped focusing all their attention on grades and overall GPA, instead now looking more towards extracurriculars.  Because of this, Alan was rejected from many schools and regrets his introverted past. However, Alan was still able to get into UCR because of his good grades. “Don’t give up your dreams of being a doctor over a poor GPA” Alan said. To help strive for good grades and extracurricular activities, Alan recommended always keeping your end goal in mind for motivation.  Building good habits is very important. He explained the need to develop good study habits and prepare for important tests, such as the SAT, which is crucial in college applications for high school and college success.

Colleges search for individuality and leadership on applications, so it’s extremely important to stay well-rounded. As Alan said, “Make sure to involve yourself in stuff that you enjoy.”  Before you begin your senior year of high school, you should find your passion.  In HSA, everyone knows that they want to work in the general field of medicine, but it needs to be more specific.  It’s highly beneficial to know this when you’re picking your major. Before you even think about majors you should ask yourself “Is college right for you?” if not, plan your post-graduation path. 

You can’t simply get to college: you’ve got to know where to go from there. If you’re interested in healthcare, then make sure to get involved in related activities throughout high school. Maybe you’ll realize that healthcare isn’t right for you or maybe you’ll find yourself even more passionate and prepared for college.  During his college application process, Alan recalls all the essay questions, but he claims that it’s nothing compared to the medical school application process, “Only top, super hardcore students make it into medical school.” Our goals may not be easy to reach, but things that are worth doing are rarely easy.   It’s important to stay motivated throughout high school and keep our goals in mind in order to reach our full potential.

Behind the Scenes: Summer 2019 CVMC Internship

October 2019 | Grace Su

Over the summer, many students completed the volunteer internship program at CVMC Hospital and was introduced to the many medical professional fields of healthcare. The hospital was nothing like I had expected it to be and I finally saw the true amount of work and dedication needed in order to make a patient healthy again. From departments such as the ER (Emergency Room) to ones such as the Nursing Administration, every medical professional functions together, whether it is with the patient directly or behind the scenes. In addition to working together, medical professionals deal with difficult situations and patients and must find a solution while still maintaining their professionalism and composure. I experienced this lifestyle of doctors and nurses in the hospital along with other HSA students as we rotated in departments around the hospital.  

Although the environment of the hospital is calm, the doctors and nurses are constantly rushing to meet the patients’ needs. In the ER and ICU (Intensive Care Unit), every medical professional is always on the alert because anything unexpected could happen any minute. When I was stationed in the ER, there was a situation where a patient was suffering from a severe allergic reaction that had left his leg extremely swollen. From the instant that the patient was wheeled into the ER, the doctors and nurses rushed to take his vial signs, including heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level. In addition to the nurses, the phlebotomist (a person who specializes in drawing blood) and respiratory therapist (a medical professional who cares for patients with breathing problems) also appeared at his side to take the patient’s blood and stabilize his breathing. The sample of blood was immediately brought to the lab for testing and the respiratory therapist informed the nurse of the breathing medication that the patient was going to need. This experience amazed me and reminded me of the reason why I wanted to become a medical professional: to help others in a way so that they can impact and help our society grow. I wasn’t the only one; however, to experience life as a medical professional. Alysha Lee (10th grade) encountered a patient in the ER who suddenly took off his heart monitor and strips and dashed out of the hospital with doctors and nurses wondering where he went. Savannah Medina (10th grade) experienced a devastating situation where one of the patients in the ICU died.  

Completing this internship program has opened my mind to the medical world and has deepened my knowledge and understanding of the lifestyle of medical professionals in a hospital. I met many interesting people and experienced many situations in a hospital setting. And although the program is over, the experiences and people I met will continue to stay with me as a I pursue my career in the field of healthcare.   

Can UC the Path to becoming a Physician?

March 2019 | Najia Saleem 

More than 11 years after graduating high school. That’s about how long it takes to become a physician, but for many it takes even more of a commitment of time and effort. Most high school students wouldn’t be aware of the sacrifices made by doctors, but many members of HSA are. How can a 14 year old be mature enough to understand this commitment?  

Well, it was thanks to the efforts of UCI medical students that many students became aware of the obstacles they may be facing throughout their undergraduate and graduate studies. Ruzan Orkuzyan, Clelia Clark and Raji Nagalla were the students who generously donated their time. Ruzan is an aspiring pediatrician, Clelia is an aspiring emergency medicine doctor, and Raji is studying for a double doctorate with an MD and PhD in biomedical engineering. That’s right a double doctorate! Clearly, we could learn a thing or two from these accomplished women. 

The first thing that stood out to me was the attitude going into undergraduate school. High school students place so much importance on attending a prestigious school, but that isn’t all that necessary to gain admission into medical school as I was surprised to learn. Clelia attended community college for part of her undergraduate studies, and she emphasized that doing well wherever you end up is of more importance. Another indispensable piece of advice given was to find your passion and to continue developing that passion throughout your academic career. For example, Clelia took martial arts classes throughout high school, and she continued her passion for martial arts throughout undergrad as a martial arts instructor. This made her really stand out as a medical school applicant.  

I could go on and on about the invaluable information learned from the presentation, but it will suffice to say that the presentation meant a lot. It was encouraging to have medical students talk to us like we were their equals. Medical school seems so far off for us high school students, but these future physicians made it feel like it was within our grasp. The Health Science Academy is very appreciative, and we would love to host more speakers in the near future.  

Casa Colina

March 2019 | Jenna Min 

On March 5th, 2019, HSA students were given the opportunity to experience the daily jobs and activities at Casa Colina. Casa Colina was designed to treat patients, who suffer from traumatic events, illnesses, or were born with it. During this trip, the 40 HSA students rotated tables to listen to doctors, who specialized in the specific category. These categories consisted of occupational therapy, audiology, nursing, speech therapy, and physical therapy. One career that stood out to me was the pharmacist who informed students to go to a college that would help you get better grades, instead of a prestigious school, like Harvard, which would get you worse grades. This genuinely helped me realize that it’s okay to not attend an ivy league school. In the middle of these 15-minute sessions, Felice Loverso, the CEO of Casa Colina entered the room with his tea in his hand. Loverso gave an incredible speech about his personal life and how he made many difficult sacrifices, but successfully made it to the top. Loverso is a phenomenal human being, who helped me realized that staying true to myself is key. He preaches that staying true to yourself will create a beautiful end result and to do what makes YOU happy.  

After Loverso presented his speech, we continued our sessions and got separated into “teams.” In our teams, we toured around the hospital. One of the rooms that grabbed my attention was the operating room. Unfortunately, we could not enter the room; however, the tour guide helped us visualize the rooms by comparing it to Grey’s Anatomy. A fellow HSA student cited that his favorite part of going to Casa Colina was the RTC, also known as the Recreational Transfer center, because it’s used to help people transfer back into the “real world.” Visiting Casa Colina has given me a better understanding on careers. Most importantly, Casa Colina taught me a lesson that others and I will never forget: Always stay true to yourself. 

American Medical Response: Experienced in a Heartbeat

December 2018 | Safi Saleem 

From the moment I stepped into the AMR center in Rancho Cucamonga and after leaving, I have found the trip to be eye-opening and memorable. Going into the trip I had little expectations for learning or experiencing anything new. Instead, I got to know each person’s unique story and experiences with their careers. 

Along with other HSA students, we watched a presentation showcasing the company’s accomplishment over the past years. We learned the center was responsible for emergency transport and non-emergency transports to hospitals. We were then separated into groups and toured the whole facility. One of the places that gripped my attention was the 9-11 call center. Walking into the room, one of the things that stood out was the huge TV monitors showcasing the location of the San Bernadino city. Looking around were heavily focused people with headphones on responding to emergencies. Their sheer determination was felt by everyone looking at them as they calmly worked on answering people’s call. Then, I got to meet an EMT who told a story where he had a huge dilemma with one of his coworkers who came to the job drunk. His coworker had pleaded with him that he was sober and even gave him evidence by walking in a straight path. Though, he had a choice to say nothing or tell someone, he decided that for the safety of patients he forced the coworker to take the day off. Ultimately, he said that if anyone found out he would’ve lost his job. Nevertheless, I wasn’t the only one who experienced something memorable.  

Anuthmi Waas (9th grade) was able to get a special tour inside a baby ambulance. She described it as “the most memorable part of the trip was looking at the baby’s incubator and oxygen tank.” The American Medical Response provided all of us a hands-on experience of each part of the center. Noemi Ruvalcaua (9th grade) was able to learn how to do CPR hands-on and described the work environment as, “A very close and tight bond between people.” After completing the trip, it has given me better knowledge on what working in the medical field was like and exposed me to new experiences I would never forget.  

Internship: Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

December 2018 | Najia Saleem 

There are many noteworthy internships that HSA students can apply for that allow students to discern the career pathway that is right for them or figure out what they definitely do not like to do, a tremendous save in time and energy. When 11th grader Alyssa Tejeda went on a field trip to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), she learned of their junior volunteer program and was enticed by the friendly staff and the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a hospital setting. Thus, Alyssa applied to the program, was invited for an interview, attended orientation, took an exam on hospital ethics and procedure and has been working there ever since.

 For Alyssa, the internship has taught her so much, and she especially emphasizes learning, “… the basics of patient care and how to properly interact with patients, their families, nurses, and other health care professionals.” She works every week at PVHMC from 4 pm to 7 pm on MedSurg 4, a floor where patients wait for surgery and recover after surgery. In this department, Alyssa helps discharge patients, sanitize medical equipment and stock isolation room carts with gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and isolation gowns. For her, the best part is checking up on all of the patients because it has allowed her to become more comfortable with interacting with patients with sensitivity to their situation. Alyssa says that, “Volunteering at the hospital has further solidified my desire to work in a hospital when I go into my career [neonatologist].” By taking an internship next semester, perhaps you will learn to care for patients like Alyssa has, find the career that you have a passion for like Alyssa or at the very least you’ll learn what you don’t want to do. Either way, internships are immensely valuable for work experience, and these programs, like PVHMC’s junior volunteer program, will benefit you. 

An amputated finger, a woman having constant seizures, a girl forgetting her own name. These are the types of realities that I experienced at Chino Valley Medical Center. When I first started interning, I had no idea what a life-changing experience this summer would be. As a prospective nurse, taking care of patients was and is the most exciting opportunity.

 One of our designated tasks was to change batteries on patients' heart monitors. At the end of my shift one day, I went into a room to change the batteries. The patient I was helping started tearing up as soon as I entered. I immediately sat next to her and held her hand, asking her what was wrong. I sat with her until she calmed down, then proceeded to bring her a blanket and water. As I was leaving the room, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment hit me. I had just taken care of my first patient, and I couldn’t wait to do it for the rest of my life! However, I wasn’t the only one who experienced a life-changing event.

 Jia Albaran (11th grade) was working in the ICU when a patient who suffered from lung and throat cancer died on his bed. Jia assisted in cleaning the room and bag the patient’s body. She describes it as a “truly amazing and generally life-altering experience.” Chino Valley Medical Center provided all of us interns an incredible hands-on training for the field that we all look forward to entering. Mitwa Joshi (11th grade) performed an ultrasound on a patient, Ryan Lo (10th grade) assisted a mentally ill patient in calming down, and I cleaned a man's deep and bloody wounds with ointment and gauze. We all observed and participated in events that truly exposed us to the medical field, and I can honestly say that we finished this summer as changed people.