Students receive hands-on learning from surgeon

Mt. Pleasant Community High School students recently received a hands-on learning experience at Henry County Health Center.

Students from Kathy Holtkamp?s MPCHS Biotechnical Engineering class ? a Project Lead the Way course ? visited HCHC for a knee replacement presentation given by HCHC Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Joseph Tansey, giving them a unique learning opportunity.

?We are in the biomedical unit of the course and there are three different subjects within that unit. At the time we went to HCHC, we were looking at knee replacements, materials the replacements are made from, the surgical procedure, and why people need knee replacements,? explained Holtkamp. ?The hospital has always been great with offering to let the students come visit, tour, and see all the different biomedical equipment. I explained to Dr. Tansey that we were in our orthopedics unit and wanted to know if the students could see what he does. He agreed and went even further and asked if they would be interested in actually doing the procedures on artificial bones. It was amazing.?

Dr. Tansey gave the students a brief lesson in knee anatomy, the surgery process, conditions that can necessitate a knee replacement, and how the components work. Dr. Tansey then encouraged students to participate in a demonstration of a mock knee replacement surgery and allowed the students to practice using surgical instruments provided that day by an orthopedic vendor. They were able to hold the knee components in their hands, and feel the weight and structure. They experienced how the parts fit onto the knee and how they work. Holtkamp felt this was all extremely beneficial to enhancing the students? knowledge in the subject area.

?Without Dr. Tansey, the students would have only been able to see pictures of the knee replacement components. With Dr. Tansey they were able to hold and feel the parts, to see how they actually fit on the knee, what they are made of, and how Dr. Tansey decides which size fits the patient best. They watched a video and did a virtual knee replacement surgery, but nothing compares to actually using the tools, the guides and the saws. They all loved it,? said Holtkamp.

?Dr. Tansey went above and beyond. Not only was it very fascinating, but it was an experience the students will always remember. More importantly it really impacted the students and made them think about their future careers. The students were so excited to share about their experience, that by the end of the day when they returned to school, most of the students in school were talking about it. The next day I had random students asking me about the trip.?

Not only did the students benefit from the experience, but HCHC did as well. The health center places high value on interaction with area youth and giving back to our area communities through partnerships such as this.

?I feel we are very fortunate that we have a hospital that cares about the future of our students. I am always being offered educational help from HCHC. In the past, we have taken lab tours and had offers to set up blood typing labs in biology. We have toured the MRI machine in the radiology department and were able to watch an ECG done on a student. I have also spoken with CEO Robb Gardner who has many ideas about future learning opportunities for our students at HCHC,? commented Holtkamp.

As an educator, Holtkamp finds these opportunities important for the students as they are exposed to the different careers that are available. ?Many students are still undecided what their course of study will be in college. I feel the more careers we can introduce them to, the better idea they might have of what they would like to do in the future.?