RISE: Healthcare Careers Academy
Reach, Inspire, Support, Empower
RISE: Healthcare Careers Academy is a one-week, pre-college, hands-on program for high school students offering a rare opportunity to step inside in the world of healthcare and allied health professions to explore what a future in healthcare truly looks like.
Mission
Students will go beyond traditional classroom learning to explore real medical challenges, examine core scientific concepts, and develop critical thinking skills essential for future careers in medicine and other healthcare professions. They will hear directly from local clinic physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, gaining an insider’s perspective on how multidisciplinary teams work together to deliver world-class patient care. By the end of the program, students will have a deeper understanding of healthcare systems, greater confidence in pursuing STEM and pre-med studies, and a clear view of the many careers in medicine and healthcare available at Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) and beyond.
The inaugural 2026 cohort is limited to 30 seats, reserved for ambitious high school students with an interest in STEM and a curiosity about medicine who would like to learn alongside clinicians, scientists, and educators at LC State.
Agenda
SUNDAY, JUNE 21 - ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Check-In & Registration
- Residence hall room assignments
- Distribution of program materials and name badges
- Campus safety briefing
- Introduction to peer mentors
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Campus Orientation Tour
- Residence halls and dining facilities
- Academic buildings and laboratories
- Recreation facilities
- Student Union Building/Center for Student Leadership
- Emergency procedures and campus resources
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome BBQ & Social Reception
- Outdoor dining at campus pavilion
- Welcome address by Dr. Andrew T. Hanson, Senior Vice President/Vice President for Student Affairs
- Welcome remarks from Mr. Mike Larson, Division Administrator, Public Health Idaho – Northcentral District
- Informal networking with faculty and peer mentors
- Getting to know fellow participants
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Program Overview & Icebreaker Activities
- Week schedule and learning objectives
- Introduction to health professions career pathways
- "Why Healthcare?" personal motivation discussions
- Student introductions and background sharing
- Forming peer learning groups
MONDAY, JUNE 22 - FOUNDATIONS OF PRE-HEALTH EDUCATION
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Introduction to Healthcare Careers & Academic Planning Instructor: Drs. Jacob Hornby and Krista Harwick
- Overview of pre-medicine, pre-dental, nursing, and allied health pathways
- Educational requirements for different health professions
- Required coursework: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics
- GPA expectations and study strategies for pre-health students
- Medical school, dental school, and professional program admission processes
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Academic Skills for Science & Medical Education Instructor: Dr. Rachel Jameton, Chair, Physical, Life, Movement and Sport Sciences and Ms. Michelle Pearson-Smith, Chair, Nursing & Health Sciences
- Effective study strategies for challenging science courses
- Time management and organization techniques
- Test-taking strategies for STEM courses
- Building a competitive application
- Extracurricular activities and volunteer experience
- Gap year considerations and timeline planning
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: LC State Health Education Facilities Tour Guide: Mr. Dan Rudolph, LC State Instructor/HILL Coordinator
- Nursing simulation labs and equipment
- Radiology SIM lab
- The HILL (anatomage tables) introduction
- Biology and chemistry laboratories
- Health sciences classrooms and technology
- Student success center and tutoring resources
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology Instructor: Mr. Dan Rudolph, LC State Instructor/HILL Coordinator
- Overview of human body systems
- Basic anatomical terminology and directional terms
- Understanding structure-function relationships
- Connecting anatomy to clinical practice
- Interactive demonstrations
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Free Time
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner & Campus Scavenger Hunt
- Dining hall dinner
- Team-based campus exploration activity
- Prizes for winners
- Building camaraderie and campus familiarity
7:00 PM - 9:45 PM: Down Time, Board Games, and Movies
10:00 PM: In Rooms
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 - FOUNDATIONAL SCIENCES & LABORATORY IMMERSION
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Public Health Epidemiology Instructor: Mr. Mike Larson, Division Administrator, Public Health Idaho – Northcentral District
- Overview of careers in Public Health
- Disease surveillance, investigation, and reporting
- Interactive exercise on epidemiology
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Anatomage Table Instructor: Mr. Dan Rudolph, LC State Instructor/HILL Coordinator
- Introduction to 3D human anatomy visualization
- Exploring major body systems interactively
- Understanding anatomical terminology in practice
- Comparative anatomy exercises
- Connecting anatomy to clinical applications
- Student-led exploration activities
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing (Nurse Practioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife) Instructors: Mr. Trent Morgan, CRNA, Ms. Nicole Engledow, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Laboratory Experience - Nursing SIM Lab Instructors: Mr. Trent Morgan, Ms. Nicole Engledow, Ms.Chelsea Cronin
- High-fidelity patient simulators
- Virtual Reality simulations
- Basic vital signs: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation
- Proper handwashing and infection control
- Patient communication and bedside manner
- Emergency response scenarios
- Hands-on practice with medical equipment
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Free Time
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner & Medical Trivia Night
- Dining hall dinner
- Team-based medical and healthcare trivia competition
- Fun facts about medical history and discoveries
- Prizes and recognition
7:00 PM - 9:45 PM: Down Time, Board Games, and Movies
10:00 PM: In Rooms for the night
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 – NURSING, ADVANCED PRACTICE AND ALLIED HEALTH
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Allied Health Instructors: Ms. Jerralyn Wasylyshen, MSPT, NREMT-P, LC State; Mr. Kyle Knigge, DPT, Sport Physical Therapy Clinic; Ms. Allison Roberts, Occupational Therapist, LC State
- Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) overview
- Body Mechanics and Physiology
- Interprofessional collaborations with other medical professions
- Career Pathways in PT and OT
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Lab Activities Instructors: Ms. Jerralyn Wasylyshen, MSPT, NREMT-P, LC State; Mr. Kyle Knigge, DPT, Sport Physical Therapy Clinic; Ms. Allison Roberts, Occupational Therapist
- Description pending
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Afternoon Lecture - Nephrology Instructor: Dr. Ajith Kumar, MD, Lewis-Clark Hypertension Clinic (confirmed)
- Kidney function and disease
- Dialysis and transplantation
- Management of chronic kidney disease
- Career path in nephrology
- Q&A session
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Laboratory Experience – Lewis-Clark Kidney Center Instructor: Dr. Ajith Kumar, MD (confirmed)
- Tour and instruction about kidney dialysis with patients
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Free Time
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner & Game Night
- Dining hall dinner
- Board games, card games, and group activities
- Student Union Building/Center for Student Leadership
- Relaxation and social bonding
7:00 PM - 9:45 PM: Down Time, Board Games, and Movies
10:00 PM: In Rooms for the night
THURSDAY, JUNE 25 - ALLIED HEALTH & ADVANCED LABORATORY EXPERIENCES
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Dentistry Instructor: Dr. Travis Bartschi, DDS, LC Smiles
- Overview of the field of dentistry
- Undergraduate preparation for dental school
- Career pathways in dentistry and related fields
- Common dental issues and procedures
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Dental Lab Experience, LC Smiles Instructor: Dr. Travis Bartschi, DDS, LC Smiles
- Tour of dental facilities and observation of patient care
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Radiology and Radiography Lecture and Lab Instructors: Mr.Scott Wimer LC State Director, Radiographic Science Program/Professor of Radiographic Science, Ms. Lorinda Hughes, M.Ed., LC State Clinical Coordinator/Professor of Radiology, Cody Wilkinson
- Modalities (e.g., ultrasound, computed tomography, etc.)
- Career pathways in radiology and radiography
- Q&A session
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 PM – 4:30 PM: Sports Medicine Instructor: Dr. Shelley Ringo, MD, Gritman Medical Center
- Sports medicine overview
- Prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries
- Common medical conditions resulting from sports, exercise, or physical activity
- Career pathways in sports medicine
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Free Time
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner & Campus Activities Fair
- Dining hall dinner
- Meet student organizations
- Learn about campus resources
- Recreation demonstrations
- Social networking
7:00 PM - 9:45 PM: Down Time, Board Games, and Movies
10:00 PM: In Rooms for the night
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 – Check-out
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Departure Support
- Residence hall check-out assistance
- Transportation coordination
- LC State application support
- Final questions and conversations
- Campus visit arrangements for future