📣 Amazing opportunity at Wheeling Park High School! 📣
Read on for the details!
Anatomy. Pathophysiology. Pharmacology. Exploring these concepts used to be designated to college courses, but now, thanks to a new elective at Wheeling Park High School, students can explore Intro to Medicine as high school students.
Jennifer Hempelmann, a certified physician assistant, has been teaching since 2017 with the last five years in the science department at Wheeling Park. She previously taught “Anatomy Practicum,” and the course focused specifically on sports medicine and athletic training. “The numbers were small in the practicum, and I really hoped we could redesign the elective to appeal to a wider audience,” explains Hempelmann.
She ultimately spun the idea to WPHS Science Department Chair, Courtney Redilla, and Associate Principal, Adrienne Richards to offer an Intro to Medicine elective that overviews several topics of medical relevance under the guidance and expertise of Hempelmann’s background. “We’ll utilize National Health Standards. We plan to cover a variety of topics that include anatomy, pathophysiology, and pharmacology as well as looking at professionalism, patient history, clinical skills, and career pathway options,” explains Hempelmann.
Since pushing out the elective during scheduling season, nearly 50 students have shown interest. While the 2025-2026 school year will have the course function solely as an elective, the opportunity for growth is present. “We hope to see it expand and ultimately be offered as a dual credit or College at Park option in the future,” explains Hempelmann, “We also hope to connect with WVU Medicine as we work through the design of the course.”
This is such cool news and a STELLAR opportunity for students interested in pursing a profession in medicine. Thank you, Mrs. Hempelmann!
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