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 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.

The program represented the first trip to LECOM for students in the South Butler County School District.

“We knew we had students interested in the medical field, but they didn't necessarily know what they wanted to do within that field,” Webb said. “So, this was a great way to help pinpoint that for them.”

She 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.

She said another benefit to students was interacting with and learning from students in medical school and the challenges and triumphs they face.

“You could have a high school or college professor tell you you're going to have to work really hard as a medical school student, but talking to a person only four or five years older than you is more impactful,” 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.

“I was saying to myself, 'Breathe in, breathe out,' ” Webb said.

The students were thrilled to work with the cadaver.

“We got to hold the human heart and lungs,” said upcoming senior Mackensie Roccia of Jefferson Township. “I really enjoyed the cadaver lab.”

She said holding the cadaver's specially prepared lungs was a thrill.

“They pumped them up and it was really cool, because you could see how you breathe from outside the body,” Mackensie said.

She also learned a lot during “dental day.”

“It opened my eyes to dentistry and fixing teeth,” Mackensie said. “The conference was very diverse in what we learned.”

She hopes to become either a surgeon or a physician's assistant after graduation next year.

“I really like helping people, so I feel like my calling would be to solve problems and help people in that way,” Mackensie said.

Her classmate, Victoria Greenawalt, said attending LECOM helped affirm her aspiration to become a surgical physician's assistant after high school.

“It was absolutely the best thing that I've ever done to put into perspective that this is what I want to do,” Victoria said. “It was probably one of the best weeks of my life.”

In addition to the cadaver lab, Victoria enjoyed learning how to suture from the medical students. She sutured a seam in a towel used to pack wounds as the students looked on.

“Getting to kind of actually live through it puts it all together for me,” Victoria said. “It made me want to be (in medicine) even more.”

She said the Knoch students occupied the same dormitory at Seton Hill and met each night to study.

“It felt like college, and that was awesome,” Victoria said.

The five-day LECOM scholars program, particularly the hands-on portions, offered a glimpse into her future life.

“It made me so excited,” she said. “I just want to go to college. I don't even want to complete my senior year now.”

Victoria said she appreciates the Knoch guidance office for inviting her to apply for the trip.

“It was a wonderful opportunity,” she said.