Quinnipiac University’s School of Health Sciences hosted 70 students from North Haven High School for a visit and tour Friday, March 31 on the North Haven Campus.
The North Haven students took an anatomy and physiology class at the high school and toured QU’s state-of-the-art laboratories and participated in hands-on activities with health science faculty members.
Joey Bernardo, a senior at North Haven High, has already been admitted to Quinnipiac. He plans to study biomedical science.
“This visit is giving me more insight on how the school is run and what I’m going to learn,” Bernardo said. “My dad has been sick with a bunch of different ailments for a long time and I’d really like to help in some way, The best way to do that is by learning more about anatomy and medicine. The whole reason I want to get into the medical field is to change lives one way or another.”
The visit included an anatomy activity where students delved into the fascinating world of the endocrine system, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application with Gisela Rodriguez, co-program director and clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences. In addition, the students expanded their high school learning about histology with a hands-on laboratory activity with Robert Cottrell, chair and clinical associate professor of biomedical sciences and program director of pathologists’ assistant studies.
“I am hoping the North Haven students get a better appreciation of the biomedical science field and healthcare profession in general,” Cottrell said. “My goal is to make sure they are introduced to the professions that are available to them that they can seem themselves in.”
The event concluded with lunch and an informational panel with Quinnipiac students.
“This gives our students a chance to see that some of the things we are doing in high school are preparing them for places like Quinnipiac,” said Paris Godbout, science coordinator for the North Haven school district.