EvergreenHealth Provides Real-World STEM Learning Experience for Local High School Students

KIRKLAND, Wash., July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EvergreenHealth recently celebrated the first class of local high school students who gained experience in health care through a new STEM Global Health program in partnership with the Lake Washington School District. The students studied STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) through a year-long collaboration that provided hands-on education and learning opportunities at EvergreenHealth.

As part of the Lake Washington School District's new Signature Programs, these courses engage students in problem-based learning and industry-based projects across a range of professions. These thematic, interdisciplinary, three-period instructional blocks combine rigorous academics and real-world application of learning in areas like global health and sustainability. The program at Juanita High School, part of the Lake Washington School District, combines courses in anatomy and physiology, biotechnology and 11th or 12th grade English.

The EvergreenHealth partnership provides students with opportunities to work closely with health care professionals, to job shadow providers across the EvergreenHealth network and to receive professional advice and insight into the health care industry from providers.

"This partnership is an important steppingstone to lifelong learning for the students in our community," said EvergreenHealth CEO Bob Malte. "As a health care system, we're committed to increasing access to STEM education and we're proud to collaborate with students and educators in ways that extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom, and that inspire students to pursue careers in global health and the STEM fields."

The program launched in September 2013 when students met with EvergreenHealth staff and learned about opportunities to access EvergreenHealth's professionals and resources for course projects. Students were also exposed to careers and postsecondary areas of study in the health care field.

"Juanita High School's partnership with EvergreenHealth has opened a world of new experiences and opportunities for our students," said Principal Gary Moed. "The walls of our classrooms have been expanded to experience science, research and service to others."

The program will continue in the 2014-2015 school year and is made possible in part by grants and funding from the Lake Washington Schools Foundation and EvergreenHealth's taxpayer-supported levy funds.

For more information about EvergreenHealth, visit www.evergreenhealth.com; visit www.lwsd.org for more information about the Lake Washington School District.

About EvergreenHealth
EvergreenHealth is an integrated health care system that serves nearly 850,000 residents in King and Snohomish counties. Formed as a public hospital district in 1972, EvergreenHealth is now a 318-bed acute care hospital and health system located in Kirkland and includes 24-hour Level III trauma emergency and critical care. EvergreenHealth also provides primary, urgent, specialty and 24/7 emergency care at its EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Redmond and operates nine primary care clinics, an additional urgent care center in Woodinville and a senior clinic. More than 950 physicians on EvergreenHealth's medical staff provide clinical excellence within more than 70 specialties, including cardiac, surgical, orthopedic, cancer, neurological, neonatal, hospice, pulmonary, sleep, and home-health care. In addition to clinical care, EvergreenHealth offers extensive community health outreach and education programs, anchored by the 24/7 EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline. EvergreenHealth is partners with Virginia Mason Medical Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

For more information, visit www.evergreenhealth.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kay Taylor
Vice President, Marketing, Communications & PR
EvergreenHealth
425.899.2604
[email protected]

Kristi Clough
Firmani + Associates Inc.
206.443.9357
[email protected]

SOURCE EvergreenHealth