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Health Sciences Program

The Saint Ignatius High School Health Sciences Program helps students explore and prepare for careers in healthcare. The comprehensive academic programming strikes a balance between classroom instruction and exposure to the real world of healthcare.

“Through the Health Sciences Program, we are giving kids real world experience in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare. It’s another way we take teaching beyond the classroom walls.”

Tara Henderson
Science Teacher, Health Sciences Program Coordinator
Tara Henderson<br>Science Teacher, Health Sciences Program Coordinator image

The Saint Ignatius High School Health Sciences Program helps students explore and prepare for careers in healthcare. The comprehensive academic programming strikes a balance between classroom instruction and exposure to the real world of healthcare through hands-on application at Northeast Ohio’s internationally acclaimed hospitals.

The Health Sciences Program culminates in a Certificate of Completion at the end of a student’s senior year. The program’s rigorous course of study includes:

Freshman Year Biology or Honors Biology - accelerated instruction with an emphasis on anatomy and physiology and basic medical terminology
Sophomore Year  Honors Chemistry - accelerated instruction with an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry
Junior Year AP Biology, AP Chemistry or Anatomy & Physiology
Senior Year Physics plus Anatomy & Physiology or AP Biology

  • Internship Opportunities

    There are opportunities for internships at local medical offices during the summer between junior and senior year. Three Health Science Program students obtained internships at The Retina Associates of Cleveland, and an additional student at the Premier Physicians Center during the summer of 2019. All internship positions are paid and include tasks such as basic medical coding, filing, shadowing patient visits and more.

  • Speaker Series

    The extracurricular coursework includes clinics and lectures by world-class medical professionals from the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center and various private practices.

  • Clinical Hours

    Hands-on learning through professional experience is a cornerstone of the Health Sciences Program. Students are required to complete clinical hours to become exposed to the various healthcare fields that exist within our own city. Clinical hours may be completed through mentorships, internships or shadowing.

  • Service Learning

    The ultimate goal of a career in healthcare is about helping others. The Health Sciences Program is committed to developing students into empathetic and responsible professionals. Participants are required to complete 15 service hours, which may be completed through any of Saint Ignatius High School’s Christian Action Team (CAT) initiatives or volunteer work at local hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Additionally, twelve sophomore program participants have the opportunity to meet their Sophomore Service requirements at Lutheran Hospital.

  • Field Trips

    Students participate in various field trips throughout the year, including tours of clinics, universities, hospitals and simulation centers. Participants can also get a first-hand view of the latest medical breakthrough inventions through our yearly visit to the Cleveland Clinic innovation summit.

  • Differentiated Diagnosis Course

    The Differentiated Diagnosis Course is open to all Health Science Program participants. Facilitated by Dr. Neil Smith '76, President of Fairview Hospital, this 6-week course brings together students from Saint Ignatius and Saint Joseph Academy. Students learn the value and importance of teamwork in the medical field by working together to determine a diagnosis of their case study patients.

  • Pre-Med Society

    Members of the Pre-Med Society who are not in the academic Health Sciences Program still have access to many events and opportunities, including on-campus presentations by physicians, shadowing and internships. There are also tours of clinics, universities and hospitals, as well as volunteer opportunities.

Health Sciences Faculty & Staff

Tara Henderson

Tara Henderson

Faculty

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