Health Academy students start their semester at Via Christi

Jan. 14, 2002

When high school seniors Christy Burgardt and Lindsey Huelsman went to class the other day, they donned hospital ID badges and learned how to take blood pressure.

The young women, seniors who are interested in healthcare careers, are members of the first class of the Wichita Catholic Health Academy, the innovative pilot project based in Building D on the West Complex of the St. Joseph campus. The program goes into full swing today when 10 students from Kapaun-Mt. Carmel Catholic High School are joined by 10 more from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School on the first day of their spring semester..

“I have always wanted to be a doctor of some kind,” said Huelsman, who plans to attend Kansas State University next fall and will focus on learning about the respiratory system this semester.

About 40 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals will be resources for the students, said instructor and coordinator Michelle Lickteig, an employee of the Catholic Schools Office who formerly taught science at Kapaun-Mt. Carmel. “Some will come in as guest speakers or to teach certain skills, such as reading a chart or an EEG. But mostly, they’ll provide observation opportunities in their work areas of the medical center.

“I want to go into nursing and I think this will be a good opportunity to get started,” said Burgardt, who volunteered at the St. Francis campus last summer and is planning to attend Wichita State University. “I’ll be shadowing nurses and I’m excited for it.”