Program to Offer Hands-On Experience to High School Girls

Fixing a broken leg and repairing a rotator cuff are not common activities for high school girls. On Saturday, December 1st, Medical Center of Trinity is partnering with the Perry Initiative to offer a dynamic, one-day program aimed at educating young women about careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering.
 
Thirty-six local high school women will be selected to take part in the program. Under the guidance of Board Certified Orthopaedic surgeon Jennifer Cook, M.D., these young women will perform surgical simulations to correct scoliosis deformity, fix a broken leg, and repair a rotator cuff to name a few. Throughout the day, they will learn from prominent female orthopaedic surgeons and engineers.

Women currently compromise only seven percent of the surgeon and engineer workforce in orthopaedics. The program organizers believe that early exposure to these exciting, hands-on careers is key to boosting diversity.
 
“This is a unique opportunity for these young women to experience how amazing the field of orthopaedics and surgery can be,” said Dr. Cook. “We touch and improve lives every day through advanced medicine and technologies. I am excited to work with these talented students and expose them to such a hands-on program.”

The Perry Initiative is a non-profit organization that holds outreach programs nationwide. This is the 2nd annual event sponsored by Medical Center of Trinity.  Last year's class consisted of 29 girls in their junior or senior year of high school.  High Schools participating included Suncoast Polytechnical, Mitchell, Gulf, and Admiral Farragut Academy.

  The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54.  Students can submit an application by going to www.perryinitiative.org and using the menu under "Programs" on the home page.