Middle and high school students visiting the Louisville Science Center will have the chance to view live heart surgeries and interact with surgical teams as part of Pulse of Surgery, a project that seeks to boost interest in medical careers and promote healthy lifestyles among young people. The Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS) and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare are collaborating with the Center to establish this unique educational program.
The GLMS and donors to the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation have each pledged $100,000 to the program, slated to launch this winter. The funding is for technology outfitting, development of curriculum, program materials, supplies, marketing, evaluation and Science Center staff. In the first year, a minimum of 12 surgeries are expected to be broadcast live from Jewish Hospital to students from Kentucky and southern Indiana at the Science Center.
Pulse of Surgery is modeled on successful collaborations in Chicago and other major cities. Joanna Haas, executive director of the Science Center, said the program is designed to “increase science literacy among middle and high school students. By engaging them in doing science – witnessing a surgery in real time and interacting with the medical staff – we hope to increase their interest in pursuing future science careers. These students are our future doctors, medical researchers and innovators; the Louisville Science Center is committed to impacting students across the state by energizing and connecting them with scientists in the field.” The program includes supplementary visuals and pre- and post-activities for the classroom.
“We are extremely excited about this partnership with the Louisville Science Center and GLMS,” said Marty Bonick, president/CEO, Jewish Hospital Medical Campus and senior vice president, JHSMH. “Thanks to their support and that of our Foundation donors, we are able to make this program a reality. Renowned Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Mark Slaughter, professor of surgery, chief of the division of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Louisville, Director of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Assist Device program at Jewish Hospital and Associate Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, is truly the brains behind this project; he brought the idea to us. He will be the lead surgeon performing heart surgery ‘live’ from the operating room and engaging young minds in thought provoking conversations. His interest in educating children and providing the right knowledge to inspire them is what will make this project a success.”