Explorer Program Begins with Look into Rehab Careers

by Jonathan Weaver

A group of local students got an inside look at three medical careers during the first session of a district scouting program.

The Medical Careers Explorer Post – set up by River Valley District Executive Fran Batson (who oversees scouts in Armstrong and part of Westmoreland Counties) met Tuesday at ACMH and discussed three career paths in rehab services.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Director Jeff Lasko gave the high school students the overview of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology – as well as the cost and requirements needed to succeed.

Lasko – a physical therapist about 18 years that has worked at ACMH for his entire career – graduated with a Master’s degree from Gannon University in Erie, but by the end of 2015, physical therapists will have to earn a clinical doctorate degree, he said. Due to the high cost of six or seven years of study, he advised the three students Tuesday evening to make sure they are interested.

“Why it’s important to make sure this is what you really want to do in any of these specialties is because there is a significant cost involved – just like going to medical school,” Lasko said.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania was one of the regional colleges that offered a degree in speech language pathology and Butler County Community College was one example of a school to become a physical therapist assistant.

He said for all of the careers available, continuing education credits and volunteer experience is necessary.

“It’s pretty-much a requirement in all the schools is they want to see somebody with volunteer experience in these areas,” Lasko said. “The reason for that is, if you say you want to be a physical therapist or speech therapist but really don’t know what somebody does and you’re going to spend $50-90,000 doing that to find out this isn’t really something I want to do, that’s not a real smart decision.”

Both high school and collegiate students often seek volunteer experience at ACMH, along with current students that undergo clinical evaluation

Olivia Iseman of Rosston is a junior at Ford City High this fall and also volunteers at the hospital snack bar. She wants to pursue physical or occupational therapy.

“I just like helping people,” Olivia said.

Lasko also demonstrated electrical stimulation on a student wrist, and gave students a tour of the facilities and gym equipment available.

Salaries of all careers discussed depend on experience, degree and geographic area/job setting.

Bryan Doner, an emergency medicine attending physician as well as Co-Director of the Snyder Institute for Vascular Health and Research (Wound Center) and Director of the hospital Primary Stroke Center, coordinates the program with Batson and appreciates the rehab staff.

“I never really truly appreciated physical, occupational and speech therapy until I started as a physician and figured out how little I really knew,” Doner said. “These guys are specialists in their field, just like anybody else is.

“The stuff they can do with people is pretty amazing.”

The yearly program will cost $24 is available to male and female students aged 14 to 21. Interested students or parents can contact Batson at batson@scouting.org and join at any time.

Meetings in the future will include discussion on radiology and technology, as well as nursing and paramedics.

 

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