Ken Heck, assistant professor of human performance, shows Andi Goodell ’07 the proper technique of performing a posterior shoulder mobilization on Ashley Moss ’07.

Learning by doing in real-world settings

“I was drawn to medicine by the human component,” says Evans. “At first I thought of these science classes as jumping through hoops to get to medical school,” he admits. “But the more classes I took, the more interesting I found them. Every science course at Messiah is incredibly hands on. You get to apply the theories and use all the instruments you’re learning about in class.”

Students also develop skills in actual research projects with professors and practicums in the workforce, contributing to their fields of study as they learn. Evans worked last semester with associate professor of biology Lawrence Mylin on developing a cellular tool that’s now being used for cancer research at Hershey Medical School, where Mylin conducts ongoing research on how the immune system can detect and control cancer.

Often, students present results of their research at conferences and for publication in scientific journals. Others gain experience while contributing research and service in cross-cultural settings. Senior nutrition and dietetics major Laura Beechy, for example, will travel to Thailand this summer to study the impact of preschool lunch programs on the nutritional status of three- to five-year-olds.

Nursing students and others in the applied-health fields learn on the job in clinical rotations, where they care for patients as professionals under the guidance of Messiah faculty.

Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next