The popular annual event last week provided three full days and nights of hands-on health care-related activities for 50 young residents of rural Illinois communities.

The camp was held this year on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, with many of the gatherings and activities taking place in beautiful and historic gilt-paneled Altgeld Hall.

The 50 campers started off with an “Intro to Medicine,” rotating through one-on-one time with rural family medicine physician Amy Matheis-Soliman, learning how to suture, and practicing vital signs using stethoscopes, which they got to keep.

Registered dietitians from NIU’s dietary and nutrition department brought a clever and delicious experiment – individual ice cream made entirely by hand using just a few ingredients. And, speaking of sweets, this year’s camp was also the first one to offer a dentistry presentation, with a rotation by hygienists from DeKalb Dental Group. To end the day, students had fun taking turns intubating a manikin.

Day 2 kicked off on the campus of the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford with rotations focused on emergency medicine. The Rockford Fire Department talked to the campers about a career in fire safety, and Winnebago County Deputy Coroner Blaine Kirby told them about his fascinating career.

Tuesday afternoon rotations included a series of medical simulations in the simulation lab, led by student counselors who taught the campers how to react in emergencies; a pharmacy rotation with the campers competing in teams for prizes; and tours of the labs.

Malynnda Mueller, a nurse anesthetist from Rockford Anesthesiologists Associated, came speak to the group Wednesday morning. Despite running on very little sleep – she had been in an emergency C-section delivery at midnight – she did an amazing job of telling the students about her career and then guiding them on placing epidurals.

The campers spent most of the afternoon donning their personal protection equipment. Things got competitive here, as NIU’s nursing department had them do a full-PPE “Don and Doff” activity, just as doctors and nurses do in operating rooms.

The popular Rural Health Careers Camp, offered annually by the National Center for Rural Health Professions, is designed as an in-depth way to introduce rising high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to careers in the health field. This year’s 50 high school campers had hands-on health care experiences that they’ll never forget!

Learn more about the camp.