There is no education quite like experience, and for high school students in the Phoenix Valley, HonorHealth is delivering both through their Medical Explorers Club.This initiative is just part of their outreach to teens to give them opportunities to impact their community while gaining an understanding of the healthcare industry.

Recently, ER2 was privileged to facilitate a donation of refurbished laptops toward the newest club at the John C Lincoln Medical Center, in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix. This club is the third of its kind funded by HonorHealth, with the first being at Thompson Peak Medical Center in 2015, which has 40-50 students in the Club each year. The second was installed at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center in 2018. Today, there are 120 teens active in the three clubs and since 2015, more than 500 students have participated in the Medical Explorers Club.

Valued at $8800, the donation of 22 HP EliteBook laptops will help students in the club achieve their healthcare goals and dreams. These laptops will assist club members in completing

assignments, applying for scholarships and college, and attending virtual classes. 

As one student explained, “I have had to type essays, homework assignments and research for my AP classes on my phone. Having the opportunity to use my own laptop is a gratifying privilege that would allow me to improve the quality of my assignments, spend more time studying and further my STEM interests.”

Overall, HonorHealth’s Medical Explorers, who are students interested in healthcare careers, are exposed to hands-on experiences within the centers. This includes the opportunity to visit and tour various departments within the hospitals and to speak with the medical professionals themselves to learn more about their areas of interest. 

The experience may also include seeing live trauma simulations at HonorHealth’s Military Partnership Simulation Center, as well as practical advice on how they prepare now for medical school in the future. The Medical Explorers Club is student-run and sponsored by HonorHealth. The club runs during the academic year from August-June, and students may reapply for multiple years if they wish.

The club meets once a month, and the teens learn from physicians, nurses and other healthcare heroes. 

This year, the activities included:

•  Dissection of pig hearts with cardiologists
•  Tour of a trauma bay and air rescue helicopter
•  Dissection of cow eyes with an ophthalmologist
•  Casting activity with an orthopedic surgeon
•  Discussion on mental health with a psychologist
•  Tour of the operating room
•  Activity on how to measure blood pressure

One teen from the HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Explorers Club shared this

about his two years in the club, “The Medical Explorers Club has truly been a rewarding and

interactive experience for me. I am able to interact with a diverse group of members in addition

to having the opportunity to learn from medical professionals and serve my community through

service projects. My favorite activity so far has been the pig heart dissection activity – something

I’ve always wanted to do!”

The addition of a third program at the Lincoln Medical Center underscores the interest of students in the healthcare fields, as well as HonorHealth’s commitment to the next generation of a strong local workforce of ‘healthcare heroes” at their centers to serve the surrounding community. 

As ER2’s mission includes a commitment for continuous improvement, we feel these students, with the right technology in hand, and the right community of support to surround them, can also achieve that mission. If you know a teenager interested in getting involved in the Medical Explorers Club at HonorHealth, check out their website to learn more.