BERLIN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A partnership between Virtua Health and Camden City Schools is helping train the next generation of emergency medical technicians. Camden high school students are getting hands-on training on the other side of the county to become emergency medical technicians.
The program is made possible through a partnership with Virtua Health. Camden City Schools Superintendent Katrina McCombs says the goal is to show kids there are many paths to success.
“They’re mentoring our students also through the process and any challenges that they may have but also celebrating the successes.”
On days when the class meets, students are bused from Camden to Berlin so they can get training from Virtua staffers. On Tuesday, a group of students gathered around a hospital bed to learn from an experienced EMT how to connect medical devices to patients.
Marlyn Valentin, 17, says this is a great way to learn the physical and mental skills needed to pursue a medical career.
“Throughout this program, they have a section on how to handle yourself in mental situations, how to take care of yourself, first, and then the situation.”
She says she hopes to become a doctor — “and, hopefully, open up my own practice. I would like to be either a cardiovascular surgeon or anesthesiologist. And this program has really grown my love for medicine and honestly just helping in general.”
McCombs says she’s happy to see students take control of their futures.
“Another opportunity to learn and to grow, but also to have a marketable certificate to benefit their own lives as they move forward,” McCombs said.
Students will be offered a job when they complete the program.