Students to see live heart surgery

This is a show that takes reality programming to a whole new level.
CANFIELD -- Students in the Health and Science Education programs at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center will get to sit in on a live open heart surgery without having to leave their classroom.
They will participate in a live videoconference as the surgery takes place at Mount Carmel West Hospital in Columbus at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.
This true reality show plays out at schools all over the country through a videoconferencing program called "Surgical Suite: Open Heart."
The program, created by the Center of Science and Industry and Mount Carmel, allows students to interact with doctors during a real-life, real-time surgery as it is being performed. It is presented by Mount Carmel Health System and Cardinal Health Foundation.
Teachers receive an advance information packet and materials for pre- and post-experience activities for the classroom, said JoAnn Santillo, technology integration coordinator at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.
Program's goals
The goals of the program are to educate students about health-care careers, surgical procedures, human anatomy and heart disease risk factors, Santillo said.
"In order to know if a health-care career is for them, it is important for students to have exposure to health-care professionals in addition to the family doctor and nurse," she said. "This program gives them an amazing learning experience they cannot get just in a classroom."
Nearly 25,000 students have experienced "Surgical Suite: Open Heart" since its inception in 2000. The broadcasts have reached nearly 40 states.
The surgical team members share their educational backgrounds and careers with the students and the student audience is polled at the beginning and the end of the surgery about their interest in health-care careers.
According to COSI, after participating in the surgery program, there is a 2-percent to 5-percent increase in the number of students interested in a health-care career.