Knoch High School student Victoria Greenawalt, right, checks the heartbeat of a fellow student at the annual Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) scholars program held in June. The five-day program allows high school students considering a career in the medical field to gain academic and hands-on exposure to many different medical professions.

JEFFERSON TWP — A group of five medically minded Knoch High School students snapped on latex gloves in June and got hands-on experience in the field as well as exposure to college life.

The students, chaperoned by district communications manager Jenny Webb, participated in the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine scholars program held at Seton Hill University in Greensburg.

All five students, who were chosen for the trip because they are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, attended classes and lectures and took exams, then received practical experience on the lessons they had studied.

Webb said the students got hands-on exposure in general medicine, surgery, physical therapy, pharmacy, physician's assistant, microbiology and other branches of the medical field.

“They got a taste of everything,” Webb said.

Nothing was held back from the high school students, as the first day saw them enter the cadaver laboratory and manipulate and touch several parts of a cadaver that had been dissected by the medical school students.

All five Knoch students jumped in enthusiastically and without hesitation, while Webb remained against a wall.

This is an article excerpt — pick up Sunday’s Butler Eagle to read more about the students' experiences working with cadavers.