On March 11, students from biomedical science classes had the opportunity to witness open heart surgery firsthand during a field trip to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Senior Andrew Quinn was one of the students who took part in the trip, describing the experience as both educational and unforgettable.

“We arrived and walked to the observation room. It was a decent-sized room with benches around the viewing area,” Quinn said. “We watched the surgery for three hours. We then went to eat after, which was pretty good. Overall, it was a fun trip and going with my classmates made the trip more enjoyable.”

One of the most impactful moments of the trip for Quinn was when the surgeons began to work on the heart itself.

“My favorite part of the trip was when the surgeons actually started to work on the heart, and you could see it, “ Quinn said. “I am normally not a blood or gore guy, and, while there were some disgusting parts, work on the heart itself was the least disgusting because it was cool to see an actual heart inside of a living person.”

Throughout the procedure, the students were guided by a professional who explained the steps of the surgery.

“I learned lots about how the specific surgery works and how long the procedure takes. There was a lady with us in the observation room telling us the procedure step by step. I definitely learned a lot from this experience,” Quinn said.

Quinn had no plans to pursue a medical career, his field of interest lies in marine sciences.

“I was not planning on doing anything directly medical related, but in college I will be majoring in marine sciences, “ Quinn said. “Hopefully in the future I will be helping and rehabilitating marine animals, so you can say I will be doing something medical related, just not with humans,”

For students considering attending the trip in the future, Quinn had a piece of advice:

“I would tell students that if they want to go on this field trip, make sure to take all four Project Lead the Way classes. It was a great experience, and I wish I could do it over again.”

Rebecca Skebeck, the biomedical science teacher who organized the trip, reflected on the importance of the experience for her students.

“Most of the students in my class, especially the seniors, are finishing up their biomedical pathway, so they’re all heading off into some aspect of the healthcare community after college or after graduation,“ Skebeck said. “This was a chance for them to kind of put the knowledge that they’ve learned in my courses into a real-life scenario and witness medicine in real time.”

Skebeck found it rewarding to see her students’ reactions during the trip.

“Personally, the best part was to be able to take the students outside of the classroom, and then watch as they’re in amazement of what they’re witnessing, “ Skebeck said. “It’s really kind of a special thing for me as a teacher, to witness not only that, but then share that experience with them. I think it’s something that they kind of take with them after graduation. It’s very special, not only for me, but for them as well.“

The trip, which is held annually, is limited to 12 seniors each year due to space constraints at Allegheny General Hospital, making the opportunity highly competitive.

“We take the trip every year. Unfortunately, we are limited to only 12 seniors, so it gets competitive each year, especially as my classes continue to grow. But that’s something that they work towards and try to earn their space on that trip,” Skebeck said.

Senior Rogan Osterhout views the experience as an opportunity to enhance his own education.

“I learned many medical terms, such as names of instruments that are used in the sterile field and the non sterile field, “ Osterhout said.

This experience could even help Osterhout with his future career.

“It could definitely help with my future, as I plan on entering the medical field and becoming a general surgeon, “ Osterhout said.

To students interested in the medical field, Osterhout recommends taking the same classes.

“If you want a similar experience, I definitely recommend taking Mrs. Skebeck’s biomedical science courses; Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Biomedical Innovations, “ Osterhout said.