SJVC Rancho Cordova hosted their first Youth Health Conference

San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC), a private junior college in Rancho Cordova, hosted its first Youth Health Conference at their modern campus located at 11000 Olson Road.

The focus of this conference was to expose local junior, and high school students to area experts who possess advanced knowledge of the health care setting, and introduce students to the diverse, dynamic, and emerging health care fields of Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology. A series of speakers and two student-driven demonstrations informed conference attendees about the importance of acquiring advanced skills and professionalism, as well as the current and future employment opportunities in Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology. The event was well attended by 25 students and accompanying parents.

All participants were welcomed by SJVC representatives in the Respiratory Therapy (RT) and Surgical Technology (ST) Programs who provided introductions on healthcare pathways and Associate of Science degrees currently offered by SJVC. Participants were also treated to two engaging, student-run, real-life simulations and demonstrations.

For the first Surgical Technology demonstration, conference participates were escorted to the campus’ ultramodern Operating Room Suite, where the Surgical Technology students provided a demonstration on pre-operation management of the patient. ST Program Director, Josephine Williams-Cody, provided a step-by-step explanation pertaining to the importance of preparation and attention to detail required in aseptic techniques. The participants viewed the entire process with notable interest and later asked several informed questions.

The Youth Conference Participants were then taken to the SJVC Respiratory Therapy Simulation Laboratory used throughout the accredited Respiratory Therapy program to create real-world scenarios and enhance the student learning experience. RT Simulation Coordinator, Matthew, introduced a high-fidelity feedback mannequin which several, SJVC currently enrolled RT students used to simulate a Code Blue demonstration. The participants were very attentive and intrigued by this simulation, and asked several pertinent questions related to the demonstration.

After a group tour of the SJVC campus, the Youth Health Conference culminated with SJVC alumni, Michele Young, RT Manager at the University of Davis Medical Center, speaking about her experience as an SJVC student, and also providing insights about her professional career. She discussed the importance of professionalism, dedication, and compassion, and encouraged the youth to take time to discover their natural talents and determine if healthcare is the correct career path for them.

Additional insights into the student experience at SJVC were provided by the Director of Clinical Education, Robby Nijjar, and teaching assistant, Louie Dean-Natividad. Participants asked questions related to job satisfaction, program length, and prerequisites for both the Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology programs. Several accompanying parents verbalized their appreciation to the SJVC administration, faculty and staff for conducting this event, and expressed interest in attending future SJVC campus events such as the SJVC Open House in June 2020.