UWF teaches, inspires future health professionals through CRASH Camp

Over the course of the camp, students will try to solve what caused a hypothetical major bus crash. They will spend time in various laboratories across campus, learning diverse professional skills such as testing blood alcohol content and learning about CPR, social marketing for health promotion, the effect of movement forces on humans and how trauma is handled by nurses, athletic trainers and other health-related professionals. Each experience will provide the participants with clues relating to the cause of the crash, leading up to the last day when they will present their theories before the true cause is revealed.

“CRASH Camp originated as a collective project from representatives in each unit in the College of Health,” said Dr. John Todorovich, professor of exercise science and community health. “In particular, we were interested in providing middle- and high-school students who are interested in health-related professions with an exciting and meaningful opportunity to interact with faculty in the college and to learn about different health professions.”

The cost for the camp is $100, which covers lunch each day and all lab experiences. Todorovich said the University has developed a close relationship with the Escambia County School District’s career academies for health-related professions to encourage participation among students interested in future careers in health fields.

Student testimonials from the first CRASH camp, held in Summer 2016, highlighted the participants’ appreciation for hands-on aspects of the camp that provided opportunities to practice what they were learning, as well as the chance to interact with professors and experience different health-related fields.

“Many people in the community have a limited knowledge of the vast array of medical and health professions,” Todorovich said. “Participants will not only learn about all of the health professions affiliated with the college, but also how they relate to each other. We hope that participants will choose to become health professionals in the future and, of course, consider attending UWF.”

For more information about the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, visit uwf.edu/coh.