Students and teachers from Galena recently went to Fairbanks gathering information and making contacts to improve GILA’s health sciences program.

Students Tiffany George, a junior from Galena, and Cynthia Kruger, also a junior, from Anvik, were accompanied by teachers Stephanie Weter and Keilah Redman in Fairbanks to explore health science programs April 6-10.

The students were given the opportunity to tour The Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, Hutchison High School, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the UAF Health science program, and the Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue Department.

“Having an opportunity to observe health science programs in place and knowing what our students need to succeed made this trip very beneficial for our growing health science program,” said Ms. Redman.

While touring the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Cynthia, Tiffany, and Ms. Redman got to job shadow staff who were working in different areas of the hospital.

Cynthia job shadowed in the woman’s health center, Tiffany job shadowed in the E.R., and Ms. Redman job shadowed staff working with ultr sound. “(Job shadowing) might have swayed their thoughts on what they want to do after high school,” said Ms. Redman.

Going to Fairbanks was beneficial to the GCSD because of plans within the district to bolster the health science program in Galena for students to get interested in the health careers.