The Westminster High School Health Science Careers Academy is a school-within-a-school program that combines academic instruction with specialized training in the allied health field.  Our goal is to expose students to the diverse career opportunities available in the health care industry.  Upon graduation, students will be prepared academically and vocationally for post-secondary education.  Depending on the electives taken students will be prepared to enter a four-year university, community college, certificate program or skilled entry-level health care job.

The academy students are active with community service events throughout the three-year program. Many of these events allow students to build leadership skills—examples include coordinating a 60 plus member team walking in the CHOC Walk,  working with UCI’s Blood Donor program and coordinating the two blood drives each year.

Academy students participate in a variety of activities that gives them a better understanding of themselves and their place in health care.  Sophomores attend Vital Link’s Medical Careers in Action at Saddleback Hospital each year and may apply to UCI’s Camp Med. Students who attend Camp Med get a chance to work with UCI pre-med and medical students. A wide variety of medical professionals volunteer their time to talk with students about their profession. Hands on activities such as dental impressions, phlebotomy, ultrasound, and suturing are always popular activities at Camp Med.  Activities in classes such as Medical Careers, Medical Office Practice, Emergency Medical Responder, Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician and others can help guide students toward a specific pathway in allied health care, or allow them to realize that their skills are better suited for a career outside of health care.

(For further information about the Westminster High School Health Science Careers Academy feel free to contact Dana Braun at dbraun@whslions.com)