NW Atlanta News

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Healthcare Science: Therapeutic Services - Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology.  Sports Medicine is offered at Cherokee, Creekview and Etowah HS; Exercise Physiology also is offered at Etowah HS.  Five different Healthcare Science programs are available in CCSD high schools.  CCSD offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs … 

A CCSD Career Pathway Healthcare Science program prepares high school students for future jobs with on-the-field training.

Through the Healthcare Science: Therapeutic Services - Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, students learn how to support physical health and treat sports injuries, including for their school’s student athletes.

Etowah High School Career Pathway teacher Megan King is in her ninth year of teaching healthcare science, with the past six years focused on the Therapeutic Services - Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology program.

A certified athletic trainer whose first career was in the profession, Ms. King now shares her skills and knowledge with the next generation.

“I love sharing my knowledge and passion for the healthcare field with my students.  I love to see students’ passion for healthcare come to life as they continue in the Pathway,” she said.  “I aim to make my lessons engaging and hands-on with real-world applications. Some of my favorite activities for Sports Medicine include taping and wrapping, application of therapeutic modalities and emergency management of athletic injuries.  Students are able to take these skills and apply them to their everyday life.” 

Junior Kira Stevenson began classes in the program as a freshman and now serves as an athletic training student aide for her school’s athletic teams.

“I have been able to apply what I learn in class to what I am doing on the field,” she said, sharing an example of when a football player recently suffered a serious injury during a game.  “He ended up with what we thought was an open fracture, which is what I was learning that same week in class.  Thanks to the sports medicine class, I knew to get the vacuum splint for the certified athletic trainer in order to keep the bone in the same place we found it in before the ambulance arrived.  Overall, I love how this class goes hand in hand with exactly what I want to do in my life, and I am ready to continue learning!"

Many of Ms. King’s former students now are pursuing careers in the field, from athletic trainers to emergency room nurses.

“I know that without a doubt I would not be where I am today without the guidance that I received from Mrs. King as an educator and mentor in my healthcare journey,” said Faith Ediae-Holly, who currently is studying biochemistry at Kennesaw State University to pursue a career in neurology.  “I hope to see the Healthcare Science Pathway in high schools continue to create strong, career ready individuals.”

Faith said, in addition to Ms. King’s classes, students also benefit greatly from the HOSA Future Health Professionals extra-curricular program she sponsors.  Through HOSA, Faith had opportunities to grow her leadership skills including service as the Georgia HOSA president and advocating in Washington, DC for greater investment in Career Pathway programs.

Within the Pathway, classes offered include: introduction to healthcare science, essentials of healthcare, sports medicine, fundamentals of exercise physiology.  Students can earn athletic trainer student aide and National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer industry certifications.  They can compete in HOSA Future Health Professionals state and national career skills programs and contests.

This Pathway prepares students for careers including, but not limited to: athletic trainer, sports medicine physician, physical medicine/rehabilitation physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, recreational therapist, exercise physiologist, adapted physical education specialist, health educator, physical therapist assistant.

The average income range for careers in this Pathway in Georgia is $48,000 to $198,000.  Local and area employers for this Pathway include, but are not limited to: Cherokee County School District, Northside Hospital, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, WellStar Health System, Piedmont Healthcare, Emory, Pinnacle Orthopaedics, Resurgens Orthopaedics, Peachtree Orthopedics, In Harmony Pediatric Therapy, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, Georgia Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center, PT Solutions Physical Therapy, Cherokee Center for Nursing and Healing LLC.

Original source can be found here.