Students in Introduction to Sports Medicine this week were fixing fractured femurs as part of their Orthopaedics in Action curriculum. This hands-on, real-world experience was made possible by a grant teacher Sara Brewer was awarded from Zimmer Biomet Foundation.
The students are learning about the skeletal system in class. Brewer’s grant “allowed [her] to receive a full kit of Orthopaedics In Action curriculum.” Brewer explained that the students are being challenged to classify different types of fractures and then set about fixing them.
“It was such a fun, hands-on lesson that really gave students a chance to see the fractures up close,” Brewer explained. The grant Brewer was awarded covered almost $2000 in curriculum materials.
Health teacher Brewer is known for her engaging, hands-on lessons. Just this school year, she has brought in over 12 different speakers in the medical field to give the students a real-world perspective, including the Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. James Gill.
Students in her UCONN ECE Intro to Allied Health Professions ended their semester with a visit to Hartford Healthcare’s Center for Education, Simulation, and Innovation. Here, students were able to use simulators to practice medical procedures, including delivering a baby and performing laparoscopic surgery skills.
This course, which is part of the Career Pathways of THS, provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit and to gain valuable insights into the medical field. According to Brewer, in just one year, the course has gone from “one section to three sections” due to student interest.
One of the most notable visits from health professionals was when the Lifestar Helicopter landed in the THS fields back in the fall. Read more about that visit here.
Colleague and fellow coach Maggie McGillicuddy commented on Brewer’s classroom success, saying, “Just as she does as the head tennis coach, Mrs. Brewer inspires her students to do their best every day.”
McGillicuddy continued, noting that Brewer “finds a way to help students find success.”
“She brings enthusiasm and energy to a challenging and demanding course, and her students rise to the occasion.”
