Biomedical Program vs. Project Lead the Way
Catholic High Biomedical Program vs. Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences
Catholic High's Biomedical Program is a unique program and opens the doors to many opportunities for the students in the Program. Read the information below to see what makes Catholic High's Biomedical Program different from other programs such as Project Lead the Way.
| Parameters | Project Lead the Way | Catholic High's Biomedical Program |
|---|---|---|
| Length |
|
4 Years |
| Specialty Classes | 1) Principles of Biomedical Science (1 year) 2) Human Body Systems (1 year) 3) Medical Interventions (1 year) 4) Biomedical Innovation (1 year) |
1) Health Science & Clinical Skills (1 year) 2) Epidemiology (1 year) 3) Biotechnology (1 year) 4) Honors Bioengineering (1 year) 5) Honors Bioethics (1 year) *Other Biomedical umbrella classes include: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, AP Chemistry, AP Biology |
|
Can choose sequence or |
No | Yes, the students needs a minimum of 5 Biomedical specialty or other umbrella classes as listed above, but is free to choose which classes to take and when based on interests, abilities, career aspirations, etc. |
|
Hands-on Classes |
Yes, using science standard equipment | Yes, using standard science equipment plus our brand new 2-hospital bed Hinson Clinical Simulation Lab with mid-fidelity training mannequins and other advanced health care technology to practice patient hygiene, safety, and dynamic, critical care procedures and scenarios. |
|
Offers American Red Cross |
No | Yes. The Biomedical Program Team Leader is a certified American Red Cross Instructor. Coming in 2021-2022 school year: Basic Life Support (BLS) level certification (same as EMT, nurses, etc.) |
Frequently Asked Questions
I heard PLTW is accredited and your program is not. Is that true?
Yes, but it does not mean what you may think it does. PLTW is accredited by The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to provide teacher continuing education units (CEUs). Basically, that means as teachers take the PLTW training that it counts toward CEUs for the teacher when they need to re-certify their teaching license through the Maryland State Dept. of Education (MSDE) every 5 years.
At this time, there is no official body that certifies or offers specific accreditation of high school curricula/programs like PLTW or our program. As in most schools, TCHS curricula is certified by MSDE and has Middle States accreditation though.
*Source: https://www.pltw.org/news/project-lead-the-way-becomes-accredited-provider-of-iacet-ceus
How did the Catholic High Biomedical Program develop its unique curriculum?
Having worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on an Alzheimer’s Unit during college and as a molecular cell biologist at NIH before becoming a teacher, my experience working in the biomedical field gave me an insider’s view as to what it takes to get to the top of the pile as far as college acceptances for biomedical majors and future employment. In addition, I’m in constant contact with parents, college admission personnel, job recruiters, and others working in these fields today to stay current as to what they are looking for in terms of employees and students.
Catholic High students themselves also drive what is taught based on their interests, career aspirations, etc. Our Biomedical students truly have voice and choice when it comes to our program. For example, I was approached by two young ladies – one in Biomed and one in our STEM program – about the possibility of doing a crossover class. Since Bioengineering is one of the hottest markets out there and was a natural fit for their request, our Honors Bioengineering class was born 3 years ago. I honestly don’t know another high school out there that offers anything like it.
What opportunities does Catholic High's Biomedical Program offer that PLTW doesn’t?
This question is a bit difficult to address as Project Lead the Way is a stand-alone curriculum that does not offer any ancillary experiences. However, each PLTW school does offer their own unique add-ons in the form of partnerships, equipment, opportunities, etc.
TCHS offers several experiences that other schools don’t like:
The Hinson Clinical Simulation Lab - which allows students to experience several clinical skills used in healthcare facilities every day such as head-to-toe examinations, vital signs, general patient care/hygiene, transport, wound care, intramuscular injections, IV therapy, phlebotomy (blood draws), interosseous infusion, ECGs, CPR, defibrillation, nasogastric tube placement, oxygen administration, gastric lavage and gavage care, suctioning, tracheostomy care, ileostomy and colostomy care, enema administration, male and female urinary catheterization, prostate exam, etc. as part of real-world scenarios similar to Nursing or Medical schools.
Other simulation experiences include laparoscopic surgery, airway management, suturing, Perry Initiative Orthopaedics in Action procedures, tracheotomy, splinting and casting, drug delivery, prosthetic design and construction, surgery scrub-in, gowning, and gloving, etc.
Live from Surgery - in partnership with Liberty Science Center, our students get to watch live streaming surgery and speak to the surgical team in real time as they operate. This experience is not for the faint of heart. So far, we’ve seen Robotic Surgery, Kidney Transplant, and this year we’ll be watching heart transplant surgery!
Senior Immersion Trip to Floating Doctors in Panama - Up to 18 Seniors will be experiencing a uniquely different culture, learning about global health and the remote healthcare setting, as well as challenging themselves in ways that will transform them for life. This trip marries our deeply held Franciscan values with the biomedical skills that the girls have learned in that they participate in a remote clinic deployment to an underserved population on an island off the coast of Panama to deliver heath education and participate in clinic operations. In addition, they will visit an elder care facility, snorkel a coral reef, walk through the rainforest, and tour an organic cacao farm.
What internships does the program offer, if any?
It’s true that other schools do have agreements with local hospitals for internships and, as of now, we do not. However, it is worth asking how many students are in the program versus how many get to actually do them. Most programs are highly selective with very limited spaces for such opportunities.
At TCHS, the girls have participated in several outside experiences like NIH Summer Internship Program, The Perry Initiative Outreach Program, Johns Hopkins University Summer Science Program, Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Unit internship, Mercy Hospital Volunteering, etc. Several students also work in the biomedical field as well. We have students who are Vet Techs, Medical Assistants, EMTs, and CNAs thanks to the valuable skills that they have learned in our Biomedical Program.
What types of careers do the students go to college for when they are a part of the program?
Our students go into a variety of different majors after graduating the TCHS Biomedical Program such as Biology, Chemistry, Pre-Med, Nursing, Veterinary Science, Sports Medicine/Kinesiology, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Nurse Practitioner, Physician’s Assistant, Dental School, Medical School, Bioengineering, Education, Public Health/Epidemiology, Clinical Research, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical/Equipment Sales. Patent Law, Surgical Technician, Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Imaging, Genetic Counselor, Psychology, and some students go into non-medical careers as well.
Our students stand out from their peers in terms of college acceptance and employment because they have unique hands-on, minds-on experience as part of our Biomedical program. Several students have reported back that their instructors and employers are surprised at their depth of knowledge and clinical skills that they bring to the table after graduating from our program. At TCHS, we strive to stay ahead of the curve in terms of curricula, emerging technology, and biomedical employment trends so that our girls are prepared for 21st century world while never losing sight of our deeply held Franciscan values endeavoring to let their light shine throughout their lives in service to others.
