Kelley Deitemeyer, teacher of Riverfront’s Health Professions Program, shows off some of the hands-on tools used for her classes.
The Looking Glass Riverfront School Health Occupations Training Program, funded by the Oregon Youth Development Council as a multiyear grant, offers a unique opportunity for Lane County youth who have interest in learning about basic healthcare systems while earning college credit (for no cost!). Despite the challenges Covid-19 presents, the health classes offered from this program are available to Riverfront students as well as any 18 to 24 year-old in the area who wants to enroll. Courses will begin when Riverfront’s comprehensive distance learning school resumes on September 8th.
“These are great classes for young people to take even if they don’t intend to enter a medical profession, “ explains program teacher Kelley Deitemeyer. “The knowledge of medical terms and basic health literacy is great exposure that is good for their own health and that of their loved ones.” Deitemeyer described future situations for her students wherein having this knowledge would help them understand their own bodies as well as understanding explanations given to them at medical appointments. “At some point, we all become caregivers for someone we love, whether it’s our parents, our kids, partners, etc…”
This box of bones is used for helping students put together an entire human skeleton!
Four topics are covered at Riverfront as part of the health professions program including Human Body Systems 1 & 2 (anatomy and physiology), medical terminology and health office procedures. There is also a CPR training course offered, for free, from a nationally accredited trainer which usually costs about $100.
In addition to the online distance learning provided, riverfront offers students the opportunity to meet in-person with teachers for tutoring or other supplemental education meetings (by appointment and with masks and distancing). Deitemeyer also hopes to connect her students with local health professionals for live Q&A via Zoom and, at some point, job shadowing experiences. If you know a local health professional who has interest in participating in this kind of volunteer opportunity, they should contact Kelley Deitemeyer at kelley.deitemeyer@lookingglass.us.
Another benefit for students is that these courses fulfill science credits requirements for college, whether or not they pursue medical degrees.
Interested potential students should contact Shannon Grosse (Shannon.grosse@lookingglass.us) soon if they want to sign up for fall term. Enrollment is also possible for the winter or spring terms. Phone inquiries can be made at Riverfront as well - 541-302-2554 (ext 303).